#Japan #Tokyo #MedTech Innovation #Value-Based Healthcare #AMDD

AMDD Announces 2026 Activity Policy at New Year Conference

On January 27, 2026, the American Medical Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association (AMDD) held its New Year press conference in Minato, Tokyo. At this event, chaired by Takanao Tamai, AMDD presented its operational objectives for the year. Given the complexity of medical challenges in Japan, which is experiencing an unprecedented rate of aging, the AMDD aims to implement value-based healthcare, highlighting the expected benefits of a patient-centered medical ecosystem.

Japan's rapidly aging population introduces a myriad of complexities surrounding healthcare, and AMDD acknowledges that MedTech innovation is pivotal not only in enhancing patient values domestically but also in catching global attention as valuable insights emerge from Japan. Through the realization of value-based healthcare, AMDD seeks to deliver innovative solutions to medical settings, thereby ensuring that patients have appropriate options while fostering a sustainable synergy between high-quality healthcare and social security.

Panel Discussion: MedTech Innovation and Information Value

Following the presentation, a panel discussion was conducted featuring Kohei Onozaki, chairman of Sustainable Health, and Hiroyuki Ohki, head of esophageal surgery at the National Cancer Center Hospital. This discussion, titled "The Value of MedTech Innovation and Information: Perspectives from Patient Experience and Clinical Practice,” delved into MedTech innovations postulated by Onozaki, a patient himself in 2025.

Onozaki shared his realization of the crucial role of health literacy, as well as the media's influence on patient experiences. He noted how minimally invasive treatments fostered a positive mindset, leading him to experience a quick recovery and discharge within two weeks. Additionally, he outlined “Four Lenses of Viewing Cancer”: Business and Services, Medical Policy and Public Health, Clinical Research, and Patient and Family. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing treatment from the patient's perspective, highlighting preoperative exercises and the value of vitality in the recovery journey.

In tandem, Dr. Ohki stressed the importance of "the power to take action" to encourage early consultations, underscoring the necessity for systemic reforms to eliminate healthcare disparities. He emphasized the significance of continued public awareness initiatives and suggested promoting collaborative frameworks between academia, industry, and government to improve healthcare foundations. He views surgery as a process that connects the patient's life to the next stage and expressed hope for advancements in MedTech that enhance the quality of life for both patients and healthcare providers.

Understanding Value-Based Healthcare

Value-based healthcare is a healthcare paradigm that starts with determining what is most important for patients. Its dual objective is maximizing meaningful treatment outcomes for patients while optimizing the total costs incurred by the medical ecosystem. AMDD's commitment to this framework includes striving to provide an environment where:

• - Treatment options are appropriately presented to patients
• - Optimal medical technologies are selected and provided
• - High-value medical technologies can be operationalized effectively

AMDD's Directions and Focused Activities in 2026

In alignment with its pursuit of value-based healthcare, AMDD will concentrate on three primary areas of activity in 2026:

1. Delivering MedTech Innovation: AMDD strives to facilitate the introduction and stable supply of necessary MedTech (medical devices and IVD solutions) from around the world, addressing policy suggestions aimed at the 2028 revision of medical reimbursement and the elimination of device lag-loss through international cooperation.

2. Communicating Value of MedTech: To enhance awareness of the significance of MedTech and facilitate patient access to treatment options, AMDD will be implementing initiatives to improve health literacy and reevaluating the ways information is communicated across various channels.

3. Promoting Digital Health: AMDD will explore the utilization of digital tools to tackle societal issues, such as healthcare accessibility in remote areas, and will push forward policies that advocate for the digitization of health practices.

About AMDD

The American Medical Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association (AMDD) comprises companies that primarily engage in medical device or vitro diagnostic (IVD) manufacturing and marketing from the United States or are conducting business within the U.S. AMDD aims to respond to the needs of Japan's medical scene and improve the health of its population by delivering the latest advancements in medical technology. It works closely with Japan’s medical device industry to assist in research, development, and manufacturing within Japan.

For more information, visit the AMDD homepage: AMDD Official Site.

Address: AMDD, 1-5-2 Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato, Tokyo 105-7105, Japan
President: Takanao Tamai
Website: AMDD Homepage