JCP demands vice health minister tell truth in Diet

Senior Vice Health Minister Miyaji Kazuaki said on July 15 that he will resign so as not to disturb Diet proceedings on medical insurance bills. He is said to have used his political influence to help his political fund donor's son enter Teikyo University Medical School.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi at a press conference said that Miyaji is not aware of his wrongdoing and that his resignation can't mean the end of the problem.

Miyaji said that he will leave the post as senior vice minister in order to get the medical bills passed through the Diet.

On this, Ichida criticized Miyaji for lacking qualifications to sponsor a medical insurance bill, and demanded that he state everything about what was discussed between him and Teikyo University.

Secretary generals of the four opposition parties agreed to summon Miyaji as an unsworn witness to the House of Councilors Committee on Health, Welfare and Labor. Otherwise, the committee will not start discussing the bills for adversely revising the medical insurance system.

If the ruling parties refuse this request and force the committee to discuss the bills, Ichida warned, it would affect the schedule of not only the health committee but also other committees of the Diet. (end)