How to cite item

A narrative review of integrating medical ethics and cost-effectiveness evaluation in Japan’s clinical practice guidelines

   
@article{JHMHP10500,
	author = {Tomoyuki Takura},
	title = {A narrative review of integrating medical ethics and cost-effectiveness evaluation in Japan’s clinical practice guidelines},
	journal = {Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy},
	volume = {10},
	number = {0},
	year = {2026},
	keywords = {},
	abstract = {Background and Objective: In light of socioeconomic trends—including demographic shifts, macroeconomic conditions, and healthcare funding—there is an increasing need to accumulate and apply evidence from health economics, particularly cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA), to support the advancement of healthcare delivery and medical research and development in Japan. This study examines the scope and application of health economic evaluations in clinical guidelines from individual, societal, clinical, and economic perspectives.Methods: The narrative reviewed primarily consists of publicly available sources published since 2000, sourced from academic databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE. Government reports and policy documents were obtained from the official websites of relevant institutions. The analysis was conducted from a public interest perspective. The sources for this narrative review, excluding interdisciplinary methodologies, were limited to reports concerning phenomena in Japan. The search terms ‘health economics’ AND ‘medical ethics’.Key Content and Findings: As medical innovation progresses, health economic assessments are expected to play an increasingly vital role in sustaining healthcare systems, particularly amid shifting medical demand. In this context, discussions on the allocation of limited healthcare resources underscore the importance of balancing individual and societal needs, as well as clinical and economic priorities. Protecting patients’ rights to ethical medical care requires a robust and sustainable healthcare system. When socioeconomic factors undermine the system and the stable provision of medical services diminishes or collapses, patients lose access to care and face adverse consequences. Clarifying and communicating the value of healthcare will be crucial for the continued evolution of medical practice. Moreover, clinical practice guidelines should proactively address the integration of medical ethics and health economics as part of broader societal development. However, compared to domains focused on clinical outcomes, health economic evaluations often receive less attention regarding the strength and reliability of supporting evidence.Conclusions: To facilitate the integration of CEA into clinical guidelines, it is imperative to improve the clarity and explanatory power of such evaluations.},
	issn = {2523-2533},	url = {https://jhmhp.amegroups.org/article/view/10500}
}