The Foundation of the International Medical Center of Japan and its Aim
After World War II, the Japanese government carried out a policy of offering foreign aid to developing countries to construct humanitarian and peaceful international society.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare inaugurated a special committee in 1979 in order to study Japan's role in the promotion of international medical cooperation for developing countries. The committee concluded that in order to maintain an effective aid program to improve living standards in developing countries, the foundation of a national center for international cooperation was imperative. After several years of consideration, the International Medical Center of Japan (IMCJ) was founded on October 1, 1993.
The first objective of the IMCJ is the foundation of a highly advanced medical center from which we can provide the means for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases that are common in developing countries. We also undertake epidemiological studies, and dispatch medical experts and training medical personnel from developing countries for the promotion of international health.
Since the establishment of the International Medical Center of Japan in 1993, international cooperation has been one of our missions. Recently, the mode of international relationship is changing from a "one-way operation" to "CO-OPERATION each other". There are two reasons why this change is observed:
Firstly, infectious diseases that occur globally have been increasing.
Emerging/Re-emerging infectious diseases such as SARS and avian influenza are big threat and are able to move around the world within 24 hours. Under these circumstances, we are now preparing to establish "Hepatitis Immune Research Center" at the IMCJ this year. The main mission of this center is to provide information and staff training against viral hepatitis and other diseases.
Next, lifestyle-related diseases have also been increasing in many developed countries and regions that are experiencing economic transition. In particular, diabetes, stroke, ischemic heart disease, renal failure and loss of eyesight are increasing. Having a new target in this field, we established a "Department of Metabolic Syndrome" in our hospital in 2007.
Looking at these two issues, we consider that medical cooperation should be provided not only to developing countries, but also to developed countries.
In April 2008, the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry was divide into two hospitals. Of which, Kohnodai@general hospital became affiliated with the IMCJ where the above-mentioned "Hepatitis Immune Research Center" will@be established. The facilities are ready for clinical/research activities, which will be utilized both domestically and internationally. In 2010, all the national centers in Japan will be transformed into "independent administrative institutes", which means that the institutes will become independent from governmental management.
The IMCJ consists of two general hospitals, a Research Institute, and the National College of Nursing. Another mission of the IMCJ is, therefore, the training of junior residents and new nurses.
We would like to continue our efforts to achieve the above missions. For which, we appreciate your kind support and "CO-OPERATION".
A General Overview of the Functions
President
The Bureau of Administration
The administration Depertment, in concert with the President of the IMCJ, acts in a supportive role to the Bureau of International Cooperation, the Hospital and the Research Institute.
Advisory Board
In order to maintain the high performance of the Center, eight external advisors are appointed. They attend annual board meeting to discuss various aspects of the Center's activities. Following their valuable advice further discussion within the Center's managing committee takes place and the Board's advice is acted on.
Assessment Committee
Several external members hold annual meeting to assess the Center's performance, and make recommendations to the President.
National College of Nursing
The National College of Nursing (NCN) was established in April 2001 as the first advanced educational institute of nursing for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The purpose of NCN is to educate individuals for professional nurses through a bachelor's degree.
NCN offers the training on Japan's Policy Based Medical Service, particularly the advanced frontier medical care for cancer patients and cardiovascular diseases as well as fostering skills for international medical cooperation.
Research Institute
Aim of the Research Institute is through international cooperation to elucidate and to overcome the multifactorial diseases such as infectious diseases, common diseases, and rare intractable diseases from which all human beings on this planet are suffering.
- Elucidation of both genetic and environmental factors involved in the pathogensis of multifactorial diseases.
- Development of pioneering stategies for diagnosis, prevention and therapeutics of the multifactorial diseases.
- International cooperation to relieve the people affected with multifactorial diseases on the earth.
The Hospital
The hospital has three main functions:
- national center hospital for promotion of international health through the training of medical staff.
- offering highly advanced and comprehensive medical services which include treatments for infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, emerging and re-emerging infections.
- ACC is ranked as a head quater of 8 regional AIDS centers and a total of 360 hospitals for HIV therapy in Japan. Thus, ACC does not only provide highly advanced medical treatment for HIV patients in IMCJ but also contributes to improvement of HIV therapy in Japan in cooperation with other hispitals
The Bureau of International Cooperation
The Bureau has three main functions:
- dispatching medical personnel to developing countries
- facilitating training for medical personnel from developing countries
- facilitating the construction of a database and information network for international health promotion
Ethics Committee
In order to consider medical researches and advanced medical technologies related directly to human bodies, five external advisors are appointed with several center staffs to this committee.
The committee has quarterly meeting and discusses the matters according to the Helsinki declaration.