LDP and Komei leaders are busy suppressing rebellion over medical insurance

The coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komei Party, and the Conservative Party used their majority in parliament to have a bill enacted to force insured patients to shoulder a larger share of medical costs from this coming April 1st.

In Nagano and Hokkaido, however, the prefectural assemblies adopted unanimous resolutions calling for a "moratorium" on or "postponement" of the plan, with LDP and Komei members supporting.

According to the Japan Medical Association (JMA), 43 of 47 prefectural assemblies are considering adopting such resolutions.

In Mie Prefecture, the constituent of Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi Chikara (Komei), the prefectural medical association's petition to the prefectural assembly calling for a freeze on the planned increase in insured patients' share of burden for medical costs was endorsed by the LDP and Komei Party in addition to the Japanese Communist Party and the Democratic Party of Japan.

In Shizuoka Prefecture, the LDP proposed a resolution requesting the planned increase in insured patients' burden be postponed. The JCP and other parties were in favor, but the Komei Party voted against.

Secretary General Yamasaki Taku sent his letters to all LDP branches asking all LDP members of local assemblies to vote against such resolutions.

Kanzaki Takenori , Komei Party leader, said that it is a matter of regret that Komei members of the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly voted for the resolution.

The JMA, the Japan Nursing Association, the Japan Dental Association, and the Japan Pharmaceutical Association have all submitted petitions or made representations to 37 prefectural assemblies calling for a freeze on the planned increase. (end)