摘要：In Japan, epidemiological studies on intractable diseases have been undertaken and greatly promoted, in the recent two decades, by the Research Committee on Epidemiology of Intractable Diseases, with the financial supports from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. In this paper, chronological development of the Research Committee and some scientific accomplishments in the recent several years were summarized, mainly focusing on descriptive and analytical epidemiological studies. Highly hoped by the authors is that some foreign epidemiologists, who became acquainted with the recent research activities of the Research Committee on Epidemiology of Intractable Diseases, may seek for possible international collaborations in epidemiological studies on certain intractable diseases with Japanese epidemiologists. J Epidemiol , 1996 ; 6 : S99-S109.
关键词：intractable diseases;Japan;descriptive epidemiology;analytical epidemiology;estimatednumbers of patients treated and subsidized for intractable diseases
