Both Japan and Korea provide population-based screening programs. However, screening rates are much higher in Korea than in Japan. To clarify the possible factors explaining the differences between these two countries, we analyzed the current status of the cancer screening and background healthcare systems. Populationbased cancer screening in Korea is coordinated well with social health insurance under a unified insurer system. In Japan, there are over 3,000 insurers and coordinating a comprehensive strategy for cancer screening promotion has been very difficult. The public healthcare system also has influence over cancer screening. In Korea, public healthcare does not cover a wide range of services. Almost free cancer screening and subsidization for medical cost for cancers detected in population-screening provides high incentive to participation. In Japan, on the other hand, a larger coverage of medical services, low co-payment, and a lenient medical audit enables people to have cancer screening under public health insurance as well as the broad range of cancer screening. The implementation of evidence-based cancer screening programs may be largely dependent on the background healthcare system. It is important to understand the impacts of each healthcare system as a whole and to match the characteristics of a particular health system when designing an efficient cancer screening system.

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The purpose of this convergence study was to analysis the current status of the cancer screening and background healthcare systems in Korea and Japan. First, Cancer Screening Program is coordinated well with National Health Insurance Service(NHIS) under a unified insurer system in Korea.But in Japan, there are over 3,500 insurer and coordinating a comprehensive strategy for cancer screening promotion has been very difficult. Second, Rate of cancer screening is influenced by public healthcare system. In Korea public healthcare does not cover a wide rage of services. Almost free cancer screening provides high incentive to participation. It is very important to understand the impacts of each healthcare system when designing an efficient cancer screening system.