About this Website

Patients Advocacy Movement Background

The patients’ advocacy movement began in Japan shortly after the end of World War II.

Patients admitted to sanatoriums suffering from tuberculosis and Hansen’s disease demanded better conditions, access to antibiotics, and improved diets.

Their ire was focused on corrupt staff members, leading to the formation of organized patients’ groups locally and nationwide.

Subsequently, heart disease, muscular dystrophy and SMON (subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy) sufferers also organized patients groups accordingly.

Additional social movements against environmental pollution and drug poisoning caused by lax standards were also very relative to the Nanbyo (intractable diseases) movement.

The traumatic outcry for help from the Nanbyo patients moved the mass media and society at large, leading to an overhaul of the Japanese social welfare system.

The aim of this grassroots movement was to improve the Q.O.L. (quality of life) for the less fortunate Nanbyo sufferers.

They published newsletters recounting their struggles.

Our organization makes the newsletters public in support of the Japanese social security system.

The roots of the Patients Advocacy Movement will always be foremost from the view of Nanbyo patients.

Tateo Ito,
Feb, 2012