Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Author Spotlight: Simulating Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Using a Neonatal Piglet Model
Published on: May 26, 2023
Accessibility of pediatric inpatient services in Japan
1Faculty of Health Services Management, Hiroshima International University, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
Insights
Most children in Japan have good access to pediatric inpatient services by car, with 88% living within 30 minutes. Geographic accessibility varies by population density, highlighting remaining challenges in rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare Access
- Geospatial Analysis in Public Health
- Healthcare Services Research
Background:
- Japan's universal healthcare system removes economic barriers to medical care.
- Geographical distance and travel time remain significant obstacles for pediatric services.
- Data on geographic accessibility of pediatric inpatient services is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the proportion of children accessible to pediatric inpatient services within specific travel times.
- To identify disparities in geographic accessibility based on population density.
Main Methods:
- Calculated travel times (30 and 60 minutes by automobile) to pediatric inpatient facilities.
- Utilized hospital data, residential block data, and average automobile speeds.
- Analyzed accessibility in relation to population density across different Japanese regions.
Main Results:
- 88.0% of children reside within 30 minutes of pediatric inpatient services.
- 95.2% of children are within a 60-minute drive.
- Higher population density regions showed greater accessibility and proximity to hospitals with more pediatricians.
Conclusions:
- The majority of Japanese children have good geographic access to essential pediatric inpatient care.
- Population density is a key factor influencing pediatric service accessibility.
- Targeted interventions may be needed to improve access in less populated areas.
Abstract:
In Japan, all citizens are covered by the national insurance system. Children's medical expenses are subsidized by local government co-payments. This removed most economic barriers to visiting medical facilities, geographical obstacles to pediatric medical services remain, including distance to medical facilities and transportation time. However, information on geographic accessibility of pediatric inpatient services is scarce. In this study, I calculated the proportion of children resident in areas accessible to pediatric inpatient service providers within 30 and 60 minutes by automobile. Calculations were based on addresses of hospitals that met criteria for high reimbursement for secondary and tertiary pediatric inpatient services, data for residential blocks, and data for the average velocity of an automobile. In total, 88.0% of children lived within 30 minutes of these hospitals and 95.2% of children lived within 60 minutes. The percentage of children with such access was higher in regions with high population density (e.g., Kanto and Kinki) compared with regions with low population density (e.g., Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Shikoku). Furthermore, regions with high population density also had high rates of children that lived within reach of hospitals with at least five full-time pediatricians.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption