Fujitsu CEO admits company may have caused medical data fragmentation

The integration and utilization of medical data are not progressing. The "electronic health record systems" used by medical institutions have specifications and formats that differ by manufacturer, making interoperability difficult.

Issues such as vendor lock-in and security measures are also hindering "medical DX" (Digital Transformation).

"Perhaps Fujitsu may have caused the fragmentation of medical data" -- This was stated by Fujitsu President and CEO Takatoshi Tokita.

Fujitsu provides electronic health record systems to approximately 1,600 hospitals and 2,850 clinics nationwide through its subsidiary Fujitsu Japan. How has the company influenced medical DX?

President Tokita shares his views.

"May have caused fragmentation" - The reason for Fujitsu's "reflection"

Fujitsu announced on May 19th that it will aim to build a "domestic healthcare infrastructure" through a business partnership with SoftBank and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. They will develop a "data platform" for accumulating medical data and a personal healthcare app. The plan is to improve the efficiency of medical care and reduce annual medical costs by 5 trillion yen (related article).

Fujitsu, which has been involved in electronic health record systems for many years, will be responsible for developing the data platform.

The company aims to resolve the challenges and concerns raised by hospital stakeholders.

"We are hearing various opinions from doctors and hospital staff, such as 'the negative impact on national competitiveness due to the delay in data linkage between regions and hospitals,' 'tight budgets for IT and DX,' and 'the need for system standardization.' We are also taking this as our own issue," said President Tokita.

With these challenges in mind, Tokita made the aforementioned statement regarding Fujitsu's recognition of the problem.

"It is no exaggeration to say that we have been providing electronic health record systems solely to doctors. The purpose of hospital IT systems should fundamentally be to deliver convenience and value to patients. Perhaps Fujitsu may have caused the fragmentation of medical data. We will actively address this," said President Tokita.

President Tokita: "It is not something we will force."

Regarding the development of the data platform for the domestic healthcare infrastructure, President Tokita emphasizes the importance of the consent of companies providing electronic health record systems.

If many companies participate, data linkage and standardization should accelerate.

On the other hand, since the companies providing electronic health record systems are also competitors, President Tokita stressed, "It is the medical institutions and patients who choose the system; it is not something we will force."

The domestic healthcare infrastructure aims to be provided to 4,000 hospitals, which is about half of the hospitals in Japan.

With the accelerating declining birthrate and aging population, medical DX is an urgent task.

Can Fujitsu resolve the fragmentation of medical data and open up new horizons in healthcare?