The current status, health insurance coverage, and future challenges of laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery for obstetrics and gynecology in Japan

摘要

Laparoscopic surgery is often performed in obstetrical and gynecological surgery for pelvic cavity procedures due to its superior deep reachability compared to laparotomy. Robot-assisted surgery has become widespread worldwide with the progress of surgical instruments in recent years. Laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecological diseases has been widely performed in Japan, but laparoscopic surgery for malignant tumors has not become widespread, unlike in other countries. One of the reasons for this is the medical insurance system in Japan. In the Japanese national health insurance system, all citizens are guaranteed public health insurance, and the cost to patients for examinations and treatments at medical institutions is 10-30%.