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Medical technology is undergoing rapid transformations, and the classifications of medical devices have also expanded greatly; therefore, it is necessary to develop appropriate reimbursement policies and pricing mechanisms in a timely manner. This paper aims to introduce the reimbursement coverage and pricing rules for medical devices in Taiwan. In addition, this paper identifies and evaluates available health technology assessments (HTA) and literature on published websites concerning medical device decision-making processes and pricing systems in South Korea and Japan, which are near Taiwan and have similar reimbursement coverage processes. Reimbursement policy and pricing mechanisms are constantly being revised in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Recently, all three countries attempted to establish new reimbursement coverage decision-making and pricing rules, adopting a differentiated approach based on the level of evidence required for the appropriated reimbursement in terms of a feasible evaluation mechanism for providing patients with more effective medical devices. This article is expected to contribute to providing references to new reimbursement coverage decision-making and pricing rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Work-family enrichment refers to the extent to which experiences in one role improve the quality of life in another role, and the bidirectionality indicates that benefits derived from work can be applied to family and vice versa. Parent nurses, that is, female nurses who are raising preschool children, play a major role at work and in the family. Thus, work-family enrichment is significant for them. The Work-Family Enrichment Scale cannot be generalized to parent nurses. This study was aimed at developing and psychometrically validating a draft Work-Family Enrichment Scale for Parent Nurses. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1,090 parent nurses who were randomly sampled from hospitals with more than 200 beds in Japan. The survey evaluated (1) a draft Work-Family Enrichment Scale for Parent Nurses, (2) the Japanese version of the Work-Family Enrichment Scale, and (3) the Positive Spillover Scale. The scales were psychometrically evaluated for internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion-related validity. Results: Data from 503 participants (age, mean ± standard deviation [range] 35.5 ± 4.96 [23–47] years) were analyzed. Results of exploratory factor analysis, the work to family enrichment direction yielded five factors for 23 items: "emotional fulfillment," "efficiency," "ability to lead," "displaying industriousness," and "self-growth." Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.862 to 0.914. In the family-to-work enrichment direction, there were five factors for 28 items: "help-seeking," "receptiveness," "expansion of one's horizon," "efficiency," and "emotional fulfillment." Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.790 to 0.907. Additionally, the correlation coefficients reporting criterion-related validity were 0.685 and 0.619 with regard to the Japanese version of the Work-Family Enrichment Scale and 0.596 and 0.534 with the Positive Spillover Scale for the Work-to-Family Enrichment Scale and the Family-to-Work Enrichment Scale for Parent Nurses, respectively. Conclusions: The Work-Family Enrichment Scale for Parent Nurses has adequate reliability and validity and can be used as an effective measure to assess the positive aspects of work and family roles among female parent nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on multiple conferences conducted by the Japan Academy for Consumption Economy, Japan, including the 2017 JACE conference on the topic 'Modern Consumption Economy and Co-operation in Distribution' at Osaka University of Commerce, the 2018 JACE conference on the topic 'Consumption Economy and Consumer Issues in Modern' at Nihon University, and 2021 JACE conference on the topic 'Thinking about Consumption Economics under the Corona-Shock' at Chubu University.

When large earthquakes occur over wide areas, in addition to damage to medical facilities, the disaster response capabilities of local governments are severely compromised. There is a very high possibility that the supply–demand balance of medicines will collapse within the disaster area, and that appropriate supplies of medicines will not be provided to disaster victims. Therefore, it is important to estimate in advance the quantity of pharmaceuticals that may be needed during disasters. In this study, the purpose is to clarify the quantity and quality of pharmaceuticals used by chronically ill patients by using Japanese National Health Insurance data regarding the issues mentioned above. The methodology used was to extract the status of pharmaceutical prescriptions based on receipt information from National Health Insurance data for Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture, a small regional city in Japan, as the analysis target area. Through the analysis in this study, the quantity and quality of medicines supplied to chronically ill patients in Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture, were clarified on a town-by-town basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the turn of the millennium, digitalisation has not only radically changed economies across the world but also allowed for the rise and proliferation of digital platforms. While clearly adaptable, a perception has emerged that existing competition laws are inadequate to accommodate tech giants' unique market positions and market power, feeding calls to not rely solely on these. The European Union (EU) has replied by adopting the Digital Markets Act (DMA), allowing for the designation of digital gatekeepers based on turnover and user numbers. In contrast, Asian countries like Korea and Japan have opted to rely on the notion of 'superior bargaining power' to check market power in the digital realm. While serving the same objective, the Asian approach differs by replacing the need to identify dominance as a precondition for enforcement actions. In contrast, the DMA will be applicable on an ex-ante basis but allow for concurrent policing under traditional competition law ex-post. This paper explores the matter of market power in the digital sphere and the different paths chosen to control it in Europe and Asia, focusing on the example of Korea with respect to the latter. Through a comparative study, we conclude that they are perhaps less different than initially perceived, diverging mostly in their form rather than their content or reach. However, the DMA also serves to suppress the proliferation of national legislation thwarting the European Single Market and debasing competition law. The latter could be a consequence of pressing competition laws to accommodate the special particularities of the digital economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to highlight the value of economics, social relations and culture in building a healthy community by interpreting qualitative data. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative descriptive approach was used between June 2016 and May 2017 and interviews were analysed inductively. Twenty residents of a shopping street in Tohoku, a rural town in north-eastern Japan, participated in this survey. This study focused on the residents' value of economics, social relations and culture in building a healthy community. Findings: People acquired economic benefits in the hope of gaining irreplaceable relationships with customers and residents, including memorable stories and heart-to-heart satisfaction. The narratives reflected not only the ideal aspects of social relations but also realistic and complex aspects, such as feelings of being uncomfortable with strangers, whether they were long-term residents or newcomers. The daily life of the town is a story, which is built based on customs fostered and strengthened through capital bonds. Originality/value: To build a healthy community, people residing on shopping streets have unique care systems in which multiple glass shop windows make it easier to tell narrative stories, communicate or request assistance, which is very different from knocking on doors in suburban neighbourhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on multiple conferences conducted by the Japan Association for Evolutionary Economics (JAFEE), including the 2022 Autumn Conference, on September 17, 2022, and the Annual Conference 2023, from March 18-19, 2023, at the Rikkyo University, Ikebukuro Campus, Japan. It mentions that both conferences will focus on 'Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Economy and Society'.

For Japan in 2021, COVID-19-related disruption was again the dominant storyline. Its impact transcended societal consequences to affect Japan’s economy, politics, and foreign affairs. It frustrated Japan’s economic recovery and, for the second time in as many years, contributed to a prime minister’s premature resignation. Yet the year also witnessed major positive developments, including the '2020” Tokyo Olympics/Paralympics; an (eventually) successful vaccine rollout; public health outcomes vastly better than those of any other G7 member; an expected return to economic growth; and a smooth national election. On October 31, new prime minister Kishida Fumio led the ruling LDP–Komeito coalition into Japan's first general election since 2017. Despite losing a few seats, it retained a comfortable lower-house majority, ensuring that a subplot for Japan in 2021 was-again-relative continuity in national politics and foreign affairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]