On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the “Think Tank Unit × Medicine and Health Unit Joint Symposium: From Solving Ambulance Utilization Issues to ‘Future Society Studies'” was held by Kyushu University’s Integrated Initiative for Designing Future Society(In2FS). More than 60 participants from both inside and outside the university attended the event.
Since April 2024, the In2FS has been organizing study sessions under the theme “Considering Issues and Problems in Ambulance Utilization,” through collaboration between its Think Tank Unit and Medicine and Health Unit. This project aims to solve these issues by starting with the appropriate use of ambulances, involving not only medical experts but also specialists from diverse fields such as economics and informatics.
The symposium aimed to gather concrete insights from frontline emergency medicine professionals and encourage reflection on topics such as “How should we understand complex social problems?”, “What expectations do we have for future society?”, and “What exactly is ‘Future Society Studies’?”
At the beginning of the event, opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Omoto, Leader of the Think Tank Unit, followed by a report on the study sessions conducted during fiscal year 2024 presented by Prof. Ogata, Sub-Leader of the Think Tank Unit.
Next, Mr. Hisayoshi Kondo, Deputy Secretary-General of the DMAT Secretariat, National Hospital Organization Headquarters, gave a lecture titled “Recent Disaster Medical Responses.” He explained how disaster medical support systems have developed since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, as well as specific examples of support and recovery efforts following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. He discussed strategies for reducing preventable deaths and tragedies caused by disasters, along with ensuring community continuity and recovery. Additionally, he addressed disaster responses in a society facing population decline and emphasized perspectives needed during both emergencies and normal times.
Subsequently, Dr. Tomohiko Akahoshi, Director of Kyushu University Hospital Emergency and Critical Care Center, delivered a presentation titled “Current Situation, Issues, and Solutions in Ambulance Transport.” He provided detailed explanations based on reports published by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as concrete data such as survival rates in Fukuoka City. Dr. Akahoshi highlighted that increased incidence and severity of heatstroke due to climate change could lead to difficulties in ambulance transport. Meanwhile, he pointed out potential solutions such as incorporating CPR and AED training into junior high school curricula, as well as improving public awareness of #7119 (emergency telephone consultation and medical institution guidance services).
In the panel discussion that followed, Mr. Hisayoshi Kondo, Dr. Tomohiko Akahoshi, Ms. Risa Nakashima (Senior Manager at Fukuoka Directive Council), along with In2FS members Prof. Eizo Okada, Lect. Kuriko Kudo, and Assoc. Prof. Akihiro Kishimura participated as panelists. They actively exchanged opinions with audience members regarding specific initiatives aimed at resolving ambulance utilization issues, research methods for designing future medical care and public services, as well as ambulance transportation challenges during both regular emergencies and disaster situations.
Following this discussion, Specially Appointed Prof. Ayuzawa, Sub-Leader of the Medicine and Health Unit, summarized the symposium proceedings. Finally, Prof. Akashi, Leader of the Medicine and Health Unit, delivered closing remarks, concluding the successful event.
We sincerely thank all participants for attending this symposium.
