Public Statement - Advancing Personalized and Preventive Ostomy Care

In both Denmark and Japan, there is a growing recognition of the need to enhance ostomy care and ensure that patients receive sufficient support and guidance. An approach that aligns with the principles set out in the Charter of Ostomates’ Rights – an international, patient-led declaration – calling for comprehensive pre- and postoperative support, access for people with a stoma to sufficient care, and protection from discrimination.

Last year in May, the Royal Danish Embassy in Tokyo, together with Coloplast, hosted a Danish–Japanese multi-stakeholder roundtable on ostomy care management. The event brought together key opinion leaders, healthcare providers, patient advocates, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore stronger care pathways and social support systems for people with stomas.

Prior to the roundtable session, the Royal Danish Embassy and Coloplast drafted a public statement, a joint initiative to highlight the importance of comprehensive, patient-centred ostomy care that enables personalized and preventive care, combing clinical excellence with respect for human dignity.

The draft was presented during the roundtable in May. Subsequently, the paper has been revised and finalized to reflect input to the statement following a roundtable discussion at the Danish Embassy with patient representatives from Japan and medical professionals from both Denmark and Japan.

You can read the full public statement here.