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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 18th meeting of the Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, the first allocation in FY2017 of Coordination Funds for Medical Research and Development was determined, and there were explanations on the global promotion of Japan’s healthcare and medical fields, initiatives of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), and recent research and development trends in the medical field.

Based on the determination and the explanations, the Prime Minister said,

“One of the main pillars of the Abe administration’s growth strategy is to realize a society of good health and longevity. With this Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion as the control tower, we have strategically advanced research and development in medical fields and the fostering of the healthcare and medical industry. At the core of this strategy is AMED, which was established two years ago.

AMED has produced important research results one after the other that can greatly improve the lives of patients suffering from difficult-to-treat diseases and after-effects, like the research explained by Dr. Takeda and Dr. Honmou. AMED is continuing to produce great results that have enabled new futures for people who had once given up on the future.

Toward achieving further results, we will go beyond the boundaries of each government ministry and agency and enhance a database for integrated control of research issues and results, and strategically and effectively advance research and development.

One important field amidst this is the field of regenerative medicine, in which Japan is a world leader. We have incorporated the promotion of the creation of innovative products in our Investments for the Future Strategy 2017.

Going forward we will accelerate the practical applications of cutting-edge regenerative medicine technology that utilizes iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells, stem cells as described in Dr. Honmou’s explanation, and others.

Further, we will expand successful models of regenerative medicine such as the early approval system that has greatly increased the number of clinical trials and resulted in overseas venture companies entering Japan, into other fields within the healthcare and medical strategy, such as the field of medical devices. Moreover, we will also globally promote Japan’s related services and technology. Through support of nursing care business operators developing throughout Asia, and fostering caregiving personnel from Asia, we will promote the Asia Health and Human Well-being Initiative that will raise health and longevity in all of Asia, where population aging is rapidly progressing.

In regard to medical products, in order for Japanese companies to enter the markets of emerging and developing countries in a win-win manner that considers the conditions and hopes of those countries, we will increase the presence of Japan’s medical products industry by creating a framework that can be supported by the Government, academia, medical practitioners, and others.

In order to steadily advance these measures, I would like the relevant ministers, led by Minister Ishihara, to provide their kind cooperation.”