How Japan could shape the future of the NHS

The health secretary is taking inspiration from Japan in his bid to change how Britons are treated by the NHS.

Wes Streeting has said he's interested in the idea of "health MOTs" for Britain's older citizens, evoking how the Asian island nation relies on personalised medical plans for its ageing population.

Japan combines genomics and AI machine learning to offer hyper-bespoke programmes for individuals, helping to predict and prevent illnesses before they really take hold.

Mr Streeting said such an approach could be a "game-changer" in the UK, as he prepares to publish his 10-year plan for the health service later in 2025.

He has repeatedly spoken about his desire to move more of the NHS's work out of hospitals and into local communities, focusing more on preventative care than more expensive and invasive emergency treatment.

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Source: Sky News, 19 April 2025