What is necessary to make neurology a basic specialty? Changing medical specialty system in Japan and the mission of a basic specialty

The Japanese Society of Neurology decided to aim to convert neurology, which is currently a subspecialty of internal medicine, to a basic specialty in the Japanese medical specialty system at the special general meeting of corporate members in January 2018. Because the details of new specialty system in Japan remain unstable, the committee to promote achievement of neurology as a basic specialty planned to hold a special symposium regarding the specialty system at the 60th annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurology in May 2019. This article compiles the abstracts of speakers in this symposium. Speakers were from Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Japan Medical Association, and our society members. We discussed the reason why neurology should be a basic specialty, the consideration indispensable for the regional health care as a basic specialty, how to reach our goal, and problems to overcome. Based on the decision at the special general meeting of corporate members mentioned above and such discussion, we will continue making best efforts to achieve neurology as a basic specialty through negotiation with relevant players including the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.