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While troops have no doubt been helpful in the wake of the Earthquake
and Tsunami, patients in the hardest hit areas have no place to turn now
for routine medical care and physicians and nurses are in great demand.
In the first place, Japan has a weak system of primary care and patients
get all their care through specialists (who act in some ways similar to a
General Practitioner). However, the system has become overwhelmed with
non-urgent needs that are nevertheless important health issues. The
Japanese Medical Association has responded by asking physicians to
volunteer for Japanese Medical Association Teams (JMAT) to provide care
for pre-existing non-urgent illness such as diabetes and heart disease
(http://www.med.or.jp/english/report/JMAT.pdf). Teams cycle every 3-7 days
and consist of a doctor, 2 nurses, and a driver. Over 230 such teams are
currently organized. This underscores the need to further develop systems
of primary care in Japan.
The effect of radiation at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has on
many occasion been compared in equivalent quantity of exposure while
undergoing CT scan.How many of general population can in real terms
understand the risk?The cabinet chief secretary of Japan told the press
conference that the radiation in milk and water in Tokyo is equivalent to
one CT scan if it is ingested for one year.What does that mean in real
term?What is risk of CT scan on general health of a general population?How
much radiation one receives in single exposure for Ct scan of say a Head
or chest or a combination of chest,abdomen and pelvis?There appears around
1000 frames in one set of CT for chest ,abdomen and pelvis.This needs to
be clearly spelt out to people in clear and unambigous terms,Comparing to
CT scan is not helpful at all as not even many doctor can say for sure
what could be the risk.
JMAT: Japanese Medical Association Calls on Physicians to Volunteer
While troops have no doubt been helpful in the wake of the Earthquake
and Tsunami, patients in the hardest hit areas have no place to turn now
for routine medical care and physicians and nurses are in great demand.
In the first place, Japan has a weak system of primary care and patients
get all their care through specialists (who act in some ways similar to a
General Practitioner). However, the system has become overwhelmed with
non-urgent needs that are nevertheless important health issues. The
Japanese Medical Association has responded by asking physicians to
volunteer for Japanese Medical Association Teams (JMAT) to provide care
for pre-existing non-urgent illness such as diabetes and heart disease
(http://www.med.or.jp/english/report/JMAT.pdf). Teams cycle every 3-7 days
and consist of a doctor, 2 nurses, and a driver. Over 230 such teams are
currently organized. This underscores the need to further develop systems
of primary care in Japan.
Competing interests: No competing interests