On their visit to Japan, MEPs are discussing biotechnological and pharmaceutical developments, AI-powered care solutions, healthy aging strategies and mental health policies.
The Public Health Committee delegation to Japan, from 27 to 29 October, is focusing on themes including: critical medicines; digital and AI solutions in healthcare; responding to the needs of an aging population; biotechnologies and international cooperation; and public policy responses to mental health problems. The delegation is led by committee chair Adam Jarubas (EPP, Poland).
MEPs are visiting Keio University hospital to learn about the use of AI in the hospital, care. They are also discussing EU–Japan cooperation in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology with Japan’s House of Representatives Committee on Health, Labour and Welfare, the Japan Agency for Medical Research, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency and with an industry roundtable. A visit to National Cancer Center Japan is providing insight into the use of genomic medicine to fight cancer and the potential of AI in cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment.
Meetings at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and with the Kanagawa Prefectural Government are focusing, among others, on care for an aging population, including disease prevention and healthy aging policies. MEPs are also discussing mental health issues and ways to address them with local civil society organisations.
Ahead of the visit, delegation head Adam Jarubas said: “The EU and Japan are partners that can cooperate and learn from each other in areas including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology innovation, AI for health, and dealing with demographic change. Japan has already increased its resilience in critical medicines, deployed AI-powered robots in healthcare and developed healthy aging policies. Meanwhile in the EU, we are shaping responses to many of the same challenges and opportunities. During the visit, we can deepen Europe-Japan relationships on innovation and pharmaceuticals, and share best practice between partners.“
Participants
Alongside Jarubas, the delegation consists of Michalis Hadjipantela (EPP, Cyprus), Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia), Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu (Renew, Romania), Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland), and Valérie Deloge (PfE, France).
