Alberta health minister to visit Japan, South Korea to strengthen preventative health care

Sep 4, 2026 | 1:28 PM

Alberta’s Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, Justin Wright, is travelling to Japan and South Korea to learn more about large-scale screening programs and approaches to detecting disease earlier.

Justin Wright will travel to South Korea on Sept. 4 to meet with government officials, health system leaders, screening organizations and service providers.

The province says discussions will focus on preventative screening, patient navigation, quality assurance and digital health tools to identify approaches that could strengthen preventative health care in Alberta.

Japan and South Korea are recognized internationally for their experience delivering large-scale screening and early detection programs.

“Prevention and early detection make a real difference in people’s lives,” Wright said in a release.

“This mission is an opportunity to connect with global health leaders, share experiences and explore practical approaches that will help further strengthen screening and early detection for Albertans.”

Wright will spend Sept. 5 to 8 in South Korea before travelling to Japan, where he will meet with health officials and organizations Sept. 10 and 11.

The province says Alberta has recently expanded options for preventative health testing to improve access to diagnostic imaging and support earlier detection of disease.

Mission expenses will be posted through Alberta’s travel and expense disclosure system.

by Jett Schwaier