On June 6, 2022, Hiroshima University Hospital (HUH) has proudly obtained accreditation of Japan Medical Service Accreditation for International Patients (JMIP) as an institution which international patients can receive safe and secure medical services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign visitors once rapidly decreased, but now have been gradually came back. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan’s inbound tourism had shown remarkable growth and many international patients visited HUH for treatment. In addition, there were cases that foreign patients traveled to Japan in pursuit of highly advanced medical treatment and we had worked hard to meet their needs. In addition, as “Good Health and Well-Being” is one of the SDGs, we decided to obtain the above-mentioned accreditation to accommodate patients’ needs and this goal for action.

On March 14, 2023, Hiroshima University, the Hermina Hospital Group, which is a major healthcare provider in Indonesia, and PT. Sumitomo Indonesia signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) to advance collaboration in the medical field as part of the Indonesian medical-related joint research course established at Hiroshima University Hospital. The signing ceremony held at Hiroshima University Hospital was attended by approximately 50 people, including directors and executives from each of the Hermina hospitals. The MOU was signed by Mr. Yoshiki Kudo, Director of Hiroshima University Hospital, Mr. Menurut Hasmoro, President Director of the Hermina Hospital Group, and Mr. Hiroshi Karashima, President Director of PT. Sumitomo Indonesia.
The Hermina Hospital Group is one of the largest healthcare providers in Indonesia with 45 hospitals and 6,100 beds. In the future, we will work together to improve medical technology, develop human resources, and digitize the medical field.

In April 2022, Hiroshima University and PT. Sumitomo Indonesia established the aforementioned joint research course with the aim of contributing to the development of medical care in Indonesia. Since then, we have been looking for ways to cooperate in the medical field while dispatching doctors from Hiroshima University Hospital to Indonesia. In May, President Ochi visited Jakarta to hold a general meeting to commemorate the establishment of Indonesia Chapter of the Hiroshima University Alumni Association. Thus, we have been building an effective network to develop medical support activities in Indonesia. In October, Hiroshima University and Hospital officials visited Hermina Hospital to discuss the details of collaboration, which resulted in the signing of this MOU. With this first agreement with a private hospital, we will accelerate moves to specifically promote medical collaboration in Indonesia.

In the Future Goals of New Data Health Reform issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2020, the following themes have been set: (1) Promoting the use of genomic medicine and AI, (2) Promoting the use of information in medical and nursing care settings, (3) Promoting the use of PHR to connect personal data to improvements in daily life, and (4) Promoting the effective use of databases.

To achieve these goals, Hiroshima University Hospital has started to build a health and medical data utilization platform that not only stores patients’ medical records but also centrally collects, integrates, and manages important medical data, such as diagnostic images and pathological reports, for smooth utilization. This platform makes it possible to smoothly exchange data inside and outside the hospital and reduce risks by collectively managing patient data. Moreover, if researchers appropriately provide necessary data in this platform, this can lead to the development of new treatments and drugs.

Toward the next updating of the hospital information system scheduled to be implemented in January 2026, we are developing an integrated database system to actively use medical information in clinical trials, with the aim of improving our data management system. We are building an environment that integrates and manages all data across all departments, such as electronic medical records and pathology reports, which were previously managed in a distributed manner.

This initiative will be a core initiative to respond to rapid social changes, such as the provision of highly advanced medical care that helps promote next-generation healthcare, including the development of vaccines and new drugs, the fostering of advanced medical experts, and the establishment of regional and international contribution hubs.

On June 1, 2022, Hiroshima University established the Innovative Hospital Oral Care Project Center at Hiroshima University Hospital. At the Center, the clinical departments of medicine and dentistry collaborate to prevent nosocomial infections through oral care. In addition, with the Department of Bacteriology, the basic research department on epidemiology and disease control, and the analysis department on medical data at the Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences being integrated, it is the first comprehensive research center of its kind in the world.

One of the pillars of its research activities is basic and clinical research on preventing complications through a self oral care program, which is spreading in the U.S. The research targets 5,000 patients who will be hospitalized for at least one week by March 2023 through the provision of oral care products from Johnson & Johnson, which is engaged in advanced research on oral health. Patients are offered oral care goods and are asked to continue self oral care while receiving guidance on its importance. This initiative has been introduced by the Center for the first time in Japan, and the effects are confirmed with the cooperation of Johnson & Johnson.