February 19, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Basic Guidelines for the Management of Health and other personal data by Private-sector PHR Business Operators

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have organized a study team on private utilization (headed by Chief Investigator YAMAMOTO Ryuichi, Chief Director of the Medical Information System Development Center) under a working group for the utilization of health and other personal data organized by a study group on the utilization of health, medical, and nursing care information. This team aims to study rules for private-sector personal health record (PHR) business operators. On the basis of the results of the study, the team has recently drafted basic guidelines for the management of health and other personal data by private-sector PHR business operators. Accordingly, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on the draft from Friday, February 19, through Friday, March 12, 2021.

1. Background

The working group for the utilization of health and other personal data (hereafter referred to as the “WG”) of the study group on the utilization of health, medical, and nursing care information has been studying a mechanism for individuals and their families to accurately grasp their personal health information, such as health diagnosis results and medication history as electronic personal health records (PHRs). The WG stated the necessity for developing rules for private-sector PHR business operators so that private PHR services can be used appropriately. In response to this, since October 2020, the study team on private utilization (hereafter referred to as the “Team”) under the WG has been studying matters to be observed by private-sector business operators that provide PHR services. On the basis of the results of the study, the Team has drafted the basic guidelines for the management of health and other personal data by private-sector PHR business operators. Accordingly, MIC has decided to make an appeal for a wide range of opinions on the draft.

2 Appeal for opinions

1. Subject of appeal for opinions

Draft Basic Guidelines for the Management of Health and other personal data by Private-sector PHR Business Operators

2. Related Documents

Draft Basic Guidelines for the Management of Health and other personal data by Private-sector PHR Business Operators with comments related laws and regulations
About the background of Japan’s consideration for the utilization of PHR services

3. Opinion submission period

From Friday, February 19 and no later than Friday, March 2021

3. Future plans

The Team plans to finalize the basic guidelines with consideration of the results of the appeal for opinions.

4. Joint announcement

For this press release, information is also available in the list of press releases on the MHLW website (https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/ ) and the news release page of the METI website (https://www.meti.go.jp/ ).