Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the first meeting of the Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion.

During the meeting, reports were given on 'operation of the Headquarters,' 'the advisory meeting on healthcare and medical strategy,' 'holding of a specialist committee meeting on R&D in the medical field,' 'holding of a healthcare and medical strategy promotion meeting,' 'the R&D system for new medical fields,' and 'the basic policy for budget requests related to R&D in the medical field.'

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

"The 'realization of a society of good health and longevity' is a pillar of the Abe administration's growth strategy.
As the control tower for this, the 'Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion' aims to dramatically speed up the process of practical application of innovative medical technologies.
In order for the entire Government to work together to promote R&D in the medical field in the future, the Headquarters will establish a comprehensive strategy.
As guidelines for budget requests were established in the earlier Cabinet meeting, the budget for FY2014 will be the first budget that the Abe Cabinet will work on that will start from budget requests. In order to fully respond to R&D in the medical field, unified implementation of requests, allocation, and coordination of budgets will take place under the leadership of the Headquarters.
I would like for us, as the Government, to decide on the framework for this today.
I believe that the Headquarters will play a significant role in the Government's united efforts in the healthcare and medical field.
I ask that all the ministers work as one toward the promotion of R&D in the medical field."