Quantitative and qualitative problems of infectious diseases fellowship in Japan.

Postgraduate clinical training in infectious diseases in Japan is still under-developed and needs further improvement. There are both quantitative and qualitative problems that need to be overcome. The system is unusual and two-layered, precluding young applicants from participating in many fellowship programs. To-date, less than half the programs actually have acting fellows involved in training. The system needs fundamental reform, with a better evaluation system for each program.