A comparative review of health care and occupational health systems across selected Asian countries

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Japan increasingly relies on foreign workers from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Nepal to address domestic labor shortages. This article describes and evaluates the present state of health services, insurance frameworks, workers’ compensation, and occupational health systems across these five nations, and assesses their readiness to implement standardized overseas health check-ups comparable to Japanese requirements. Methods We conducted a scoping comparative review examining national health system architecture, occupational health governance, regulatory frameworks, worker compensation mechanisms, and health workforce trends. Evidence was synthesized from peer-reviewed literature and official legal and policy documents. Results Substantial heterogeneity was observed in the legal maturity, institutional capacity, and operational implementation of occupational health examination systems. Overseas health check-ups demonstrated the greatest feasibility in Thailand, with Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines exhibiting moderate readiness subject to targeted regulatory enhancements. Nepal requires considerable capacity-building and legislative reform prior to implementation. These disparities underscore the imperative for accelerated Association of Southeast Asian Nations -level harmonization to advance shared standards and structured technical cooperation. Conclusions Thailand demonstrated the highest level of systemic preparedness, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia. The Philippines occupies an intermediate position, while Nepal remains at a nascent stage of development. These findings constitute preliminary comparative evidence to inform policy deliberations by the Government of Japan regarding overseas occupational health check-ups for returning migrant workers, subject to policy decisions and intergovernmental collaboration.