Prime Minister must not force people to pay more for medical services: JCP Koike

Japanese Communist Party member of the Upper House Koike Akira revealed that Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro has received 57 million yen in political donations from drug companies and medical institutions between 1995 and 2000.

This was revealed at the House of Councilors' Health, Labor, and Welfare Committee meeting on July 2. The committee was discussing the bill to adversely revise the medical insurance system.

Koike stated that the prime minister, who has close financial connections with companies and institutions that make profits from citizens' medical insurance premiums and tax money, is not qualified to ask citizens to endure heavier burdens in medical costs.

A Health and Welfare Ministry survey has found that 350 thousand people between 35 and 64 years old stopped visiting doctors after the patient burden of medical expense increased from 10 to 20 percent in 1997. Koike stated that increasing the burden to 30 percent will discourage even more people from going to see their doctors.

The prime minister did not deny the possibility that the planned adverse revision would discourage people from to hospital visits. But he insisted, "Essential medical treatment is secured," without showing any bases for such a claim.

Koike said, "The government can save on expenditure for medical services by encouraging citizens to go to hospital early before their conditions get worse. The Prime Minister thinks in the exact opposite way." (end)