The Abe government is considering emphasizing measures to help spread basic health and medical care in developing countries as one of its foreign policy priorities when Japan hosts the Group of Seven summit next year.

A draft of the government's 2016-2020 strategy in the health and medical field, to be adopted soon, highlights promoting universal health coverage, a goal defined by the World Health Organization as ensuring that all people have access to essential health care services at affordable prices.

While Japan has been giving priority to maternal and child health and infectious disease control in its international health policies, the new strategy would emphasize the importance of health care for people of all generations, from babies to seniors.