Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Globalization and Health
Published in: Globalization and Health 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome | Research

Tracking Japan’s development assistance for health, 2012–2016

Authors: Shuhei Nomura, Haruka Sakamoto, Maaya Kita Sugai, Haruyo Nakamura, Keiko Maruyama-Sakurai, Sangnim Lee, Aya Ishizuka, Kenji Shibuya

Published in: Globalization and Health | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Development assistance for health (DAH) is one of the most important means for Japan to promote diplomacy with developing countries and contribute to the international community. This study, for the first time, estimated the gross disbursement of Japan’s DAH from 2012 to 2016 and clarified its flows, including source, aid type, channel, target region, and target health focus area.

Methods

Data on Japan Tracker, the first data platform of Japan’s DAH, were used. The DAH definition was based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) sector classification. Regarding core funding to non-health-specific multilateral agencies, we estimated DAH and its flows based on the OECD methodology for calculating imputed multilateral official development assistance (ODA).

Results

Japan’s DAH was estimated at 853.87 (2012), 718.16 (2013), 824.95 (2014), 873.04 (2015), and 894.57 million USD (2016) in constant prices of 2016. Multilateral agencies received the largest DAH share of 44.96–57.01% in these periods, followed by bilateral grants (34.59–53.08%) and bilateral loans (1.96–15.04%). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) was the largest contributors to the DAH (76.26–82.68%), followed by Ministry of Finance (MOF) (10.86–16.25%). Japan’s DAH was most heavily distributed in the African region with 41.64–53.48% share. The channel through which the most DAH went was Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (20.04–34.89%). Between 2012 and 2016, approximately 70% was allocated to primary health care and the rest to health system strengthening.

Conclusions

With many major high-level health related meetings ahead, coming years will play a powerful opportunity to reevaluate DAH and shape the future of DAH for Japan. We hope that the results of this study will enhance the social debate for and contribute to the implementation of Japan’s DAH with a more efficient and effective strategy.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Anand S. Human security and universal health insurance. Lancet. 2012;379(9810):9–10.
2.
3.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yokohama declaration 2019 – advancing Africa’s development through people, technology and innovation. Tokyo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2019.
4.
Abe S. Japan's strategy for global health diplomacy: why it matters. Lancet. 2013;382(9896):915–6.CrossRef
5.
Abe S. Japan's vision for a peaceful and healthier world. Lancet. 2015;386(10011):2367–9.CrossRef
6.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japan’s strategy on global health diplomacy. Tokyo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2013.
7.
Commission on Human Security. Human security now: protecting and empowering. New York: Commission on Human Security; 2003.
8.
Lim SS, Updike RL, Kaldjian AS, Barber RM, Cowling K, York H, et al. Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016. Lancet. 2018;392(10154):1217–34.CrossRef
9.
Labonte R, Gagnon ML. Framing health and foreign policy: lessons for global health diplomacy. Glob Health. 2010;6:14.CrossRef
10.
Heymann DL, Chen L, Takemi K, Fidler DP, Tappero JW, Thomas MJ, et al. Global health security: the wider lessons from the west African Ebola virus disease epidemic. Lancet. 2015;385(9980):1884–901.CrossRef
11.
Global Burden of Disease Health Financing Collaborator, Network. Trends in future health financing and coverage: future health spending and universal health coverage in 188 countries, 2016–40. Lancet. 2018;391(10132):1783–98.CrossRef
12.
Dieleman JL, Cowling K, Agyepong IA, Alkenbrack S, Bollyky TJ, Bump JB, et al. The G20 and development assistance for health: historical trends and crucial questions to inform a new era. Lancet. 2019;394(10193):173–83.CrossRef
13.
Asian Development Bank. A region at risk: the human dimensions of climate change in Asia and the Pacific. Philippines: Asian Development Bank; 2017.CrossRef
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cabinet decision on the Development Cooperation Charter. Tokyo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2015.
19.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Basic Design for Peace and Health (global health cooperation). Tokyo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2015.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Schaferhoff M, Fewer S, Kraus J, Richter E, Summers LH, Sundewall J, et al. How much donor financing for health is channelled to global versus country-specific aid functions? Lancet. 2015;386(10011):2436–41.CrossRef
24.
Pallas SW, Ruger JP. Does donor proliferation in development aid for health affect health service delivery and population health? Cross-country regression analysis from 1995 to 2010. Health Policy Plan. 2017;32(4):493–503.
25.
Powell-Jackson T, Borghi J, Mueller DH, Patouillard E, Mills A. Countdown to 2015: tracking donor assistance to maternal, newborn, and child health. Lancet. 2006;368(9541):1077–87.CrossRef
26.
27.
28.
29.
World Health Organization. Declaration of Alma-Ata. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1978.
30.
World Health Organization. Declaration of Astana. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018.
31.
Shaw RP, Wang H, Kress D, Hovig D. Donor and domestic financing of primary health care in low income countries. Health Syst Reform. 2015;1(1):72–88.CrossRef
32.
World Bank. Universal health coverage (UHC) in Africa: a framework for action. Washington, D.C.: World Bank; 2016.
33.
Japan Global Health Working Group. Protecting human security: proposals for the G7 Ise-Shima summit in Japan. Lancet. 2016;387(10033):2155–62.CrossRef
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
Berthelemy JC. Bilateral donors' interest vs. recipients' development motives in aid allocation: do all donors behave the same? Rev Dev Econ. 2006;10(2):179–94.CrossRef
39.
Global Burden of Disease Health Financing Collaborator, Network. Past, present, and future of global health financing: A review of development assistance, government, out-of-pocket, and other private spending on health for 195 countries, 1995-2050. Lancet. 2019;393(10187):2233–60.CrossRef
40.
Islam MM, Nuzhath T. Health risks of Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh: a call for global attention. J Glob Health. 2018;8(2):020309.CrossRef
41.
Hsu SM, Yen AM, Chen TH. The impact of climate on Japanese encephalitis. Epidemiol Infect. 2008;136(7):980–7.CrossRef
42.
Ramasamy R, Surendran SN. Global climate change and its potential impact on disease transmission by salinity-tolerant mosquito vectors in coastal zones. Front Physiol. 2012;3:198.CrossRef
43.
44.
45.
United Nations. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 September 2012: Follow-up to paragraph 143 on human security of the 2005 World Summit Outcome. New York: United Nations; 2012.
46.
Feldbaum H, Patel P, Sondorp E, Lee K. Global health and national security: the need for critical engagement. Med Confl Surv. 2006;22(3):192–8.CrossRef
47.
48.
Knippenberg, R. Health systems for the millennium development goals: country needs and funding gaps – background document for the taskforce on innovative international financing for health systems. Working group 1: constraints to scaling up and costs. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group; 2010.
49.
Prasad AM, Chakraborty G, Yadav SS, Bhatia S. Addressing the social determinants of health through health system strengthening and inter-sectoral convergence: the case of the Indian National Rural Health Mission. Glob Health Action. 2013;6:1–11.
50.
GBD 2017 SDG Collaborators. Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2017. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):2091–138.CrossRef
51.
Maher D, Smeeth L, Sekajugo J. Health transition in Africa: practical policy proposals for primary care. B World Health Organ. 2010;88(12):943–8.CrossRef
52.
Ooms G, Van Damme W, Baker BK, Zeitz P, Schrecker T. The 'diagonal' approach to Global Fund financing: a cure for the broader malaise of health systems? Glob Health. 2008;4:6.
53.
Samb B, Evans T, Dybul M, Atun R, Moatti JP, Nishtar S, et al. An assessment of interactions between global health initiatives and country health systems. Lancet. 2009;373(9681):2137–69.CrossRef
54.
Council on Foreign Relations. The emerging Global Health crisis: noncommunicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries. New York: Council on Foreign Relations; 2014.
55.
GBD 2017 DALYs and HALE Collaborators. Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 359 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2017. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1859–922.CrossRef
56.
57.
United Nations. Resolution adopted by the general assembly on 27 July 2015. Geneva: United Nations; 2015.
58.
Global Financing Facility. Beating the DRUM in lower-income countries. Oslo: Global Financing Facility; 2018.
59.
60.
World Bank Group. Understanding the costs and benefits of unharmonized and unaligned FM arrangements: PFM in health sector. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group; 2016.
61.
Lu C, Schneider MT, Gubbins P, Leach-Kemon K, Jamison D, Murray CJ. Public financing of health in developing countries: a cross-national systematic analysis. Lancet. 2010;375(9723):1375–87.CrossRef
62.
Dieleman JL, Hanlon M. Measuring the displacement and replacement of government health expenditure. Health Econ. 2014;23(2):129–40.CrossRef
63.
Powell-Jackson T, Mills A. A review of health resource tracking in developing countries. Health Policy Plan. 2007;22(6):353–62.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Tracking Japan’s development assistance for health, 2012–2016
Authors
Shuhei Nomura
Haruka Sakamoto
Maaya Kita Sugai
Haruyo Nakamura
Keiko Maruyama-Sakurai
Sangnim Lee
Aya Ishizuka
Kenji Shibuya
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Globalization and Health / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1744-8603
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00559-2

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

Globalization and Health 1/2020 Go to the issue

Commentary

Social capital and public health: responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

Review

The north-south policy divide in transnational healthcare: a comparative review of policy research on medical tourism in source and destination countries

Review

A systematic review of global health capacity building initiatives in low-to middle-income countries in the Middle East and North Africa region

Research

Incorporating operational research in programmes funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in four sub-Saharan African countries

Research

Bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on “sustainable development goals” with emphasis on “good health and well-being” goal (2015–2019)

Research

Public health and corporate social responsibility: exploratory study on pharmaceutical companies in an emerging market