[A report from the 50th Annual Meeting of Representatives from Clinical Laboratories, National University Hospitals].

The 50th Annual Meeting of Representatives from Clinical Laboratories, National University Hospitals, chaired by the University of the Ryukyus, was held in Okinawa from May 29 to 30, 2003. With the common understanding that two environmental changes surrounding clinical laboratories will soon greatly influence laboratory management and activities, the representatives tried to find a workable approach for improving our standpoint and functions. First, reorganization of all the National University Hospitals to agencies will drive clinical laboratories toward having financial management skill based on cost-effect balance. Second, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is currently trying to change the constitution of National University Hospitals. At the meeting, a total of 10 working groups proposed several action plans and the participants exchanged ideas and opinions for the future. However, nobody knows whether the coming years will be fruitful.