New trends for practice in telecommunication applied to preventive and environmental medicine

This paper presents survey results of connectivity to the Internet from preventive and environmental medicine-related departments in medical schools and other institutions in Japan and propose means to establish connectivity among them. Of 191 facilities surveyed, 134 (70%) responded by March 31, 1996. The data presented here are from 132 facilities. One hundred seventeen facilities (89%) answered that they were connected to the Internet. More than 80% of them got access to the Internet in the past two years. One hundred three facilities (78%) answered that e-mail was available. Despite the large percentage being connected, only 11 facilities (8%) had their own homepages. However, just 6 months later more than 25 facilities could be found by their own homepages. The Global Health Network (GHNet) has been developed in the USA based upon the concept that the best means to produce improved health is a better surveillance and information system applying the latest telecommunication technology to public health. The GHNet will offer an initial homepage for Preventive and Environmental Medicine related facilities in Japan to promote and establish sustainable connectivity among them.