Status of medical engineering technology assessment in Japan

Today in Japan, although the installation rates of high level medical engineering (ME) equipment at hospitals and clinics are the highest in the world, actual and effective technology assessment programs are lacking. In this paper, the author introduces the unique situation and tendency of ME in Japan as compared to western countries and also discuss the role which ME has played in this transition of the health care system. Furthermore the author introduces a developing program for ME technology assessment (MTA) recently investigated in Japan.