AIDS policy in Japan: integration within structured paternalism

The AIDS epidemic in Japan may be changing the shape of public policy. Even though the Japanese people are well-informed, they look to the government to issue public health policy. Japan has no well-organized trade association for physicians and many physicians have little regard for politicians. However, the spread of AIDS through contaminated blood products has spurred several non-governmental organizations to challenge the government's response to the disease. This may have been the first time that private citizens helped to shape public policy.