Hisatoyo Kato Chairman Japan Industries Association of Radiological Systems

Welcome to the JIRA Website!

The Japan Industries Association of Radiological Systems (JIRA) consists of member companies that develop, manufacture and sell diagnostic imaging equipment and systems such as medical x-ray equipment, CT, MRI, ultrasound scanners, radiotherapy systems, and related products.

Established in 1924 as a small association made up of just seven companies including manufacturers and importers of medical x-ray equipment, JIRA has continued to grow since its inception along with the development of radiation medicine in Japan. As of August, 2010, JIRA has become an industrial association made up of some 173 member-companies, all involved in the supply of radiological systems and related equipment and supplies. Without the dedication and hard work of both my predecessors and many others, this growth would not have been possible. Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to all for this achievement.

Japan now faces a future with an aging population and a diminishing number of children. In the field of medical care in Japan, the balance between rising health care costs and burden-sharing has collapsed and we see many other problems rising to the surface. JIRA not only finds itself in an environment that is changing radically, but is itself being called upon to undertake extensive reforms.

One area of challenge relates to innovative developments in diagnostic imaging. With innovations driving a shift from “analog to digital” and “hard to soft” occurring rapidly, we need to both reevaluate the value of medical images and begin to create new value for these images. Innovations in software and technology for medical imaging have been especially dramatic and, as JIRA has seen an increase in the number of member-companies from these areas, it is now important, I believe, that these technologies become established and fairly assessed.

Another area relates to the changing social environment surrounding diagnostic imaging. There is a need to respond to the governmental policies calling for a “5-Year Strategy for the Creation of Innovative Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices” and the “Vision for New Medical Devices and a New Medical Technology Industry,” both of which greatly impact the medical device industry. Also, as the globalization of the market continues and we look more and more from the domestic arena to overseas locations, there will be the need to align national standards and systems and to pioneer in emerging economies, such as the BRICS.

Along with coordinating its activities with The Japan Federation of Medical Devices Associations and other related organizations and academic associations, I believe it is vital that JIRA coordinate clear and specific requests and proposals relating specifically to the special characteristics of radiological systems.

With this in mind, we have initiated the “JIRA of the Future Project” and are aiming at “the formation of a new dynamism in the radiological systems industry.” We are considering how to make adjustments to any further changes in the environment and are considering action plans designed to help us overcome the challenges before us.

All companies today must take the issue of compliance very seriously. Though from early on JIRA created a Compliance Committee and a Trade Modernization Committee, and promoted compliance with the published Code of Ethics, Compliance Declaration, Code Pertaining to the Sale of Medical Devices, and Fair Competition Code, on reflection I feel we have not done enough. Going forward, JIRA will intensely focus on promoting renewed “compliance” by member-companies, on ensuring JIRA’s own organization as a corporation is strengthened, and on having an unflagging resolve to prevent the reoccurrence of any misconduct committed by our member-company.

Though the environment we are living in is indeed difficult with the economic crisis and fragmentation in medical care, medical care deals with people’s lives and quality of life. In this regard, I believe the role of JIRA and its member-companies in bringing about a society in which people’s lives are secure and in which they can receive safe and reassuring medical care is considerable. To this end, I will do everything I can to ensure that JIRA member-companies join together in being “compliant” while contributing to the health and economic well-being of the country, the strengthening of the international competitiveness of the radiological systems industry and in the industry’s future healthy development.

I look forward to your continued cooperation and understanding.