Opposition parties jointly work to stop increase in patients' burden of medical costs

Four opposition parties decided to jointly submit a bill to cancel the increase in insured patients' burden for medical costs to 30 percent from 20 percent, which was implemented on April 1.

Secretaries of the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Liberal, and Social Democratic parties confirmed this joint action at a meeting in the Diet on March 31.

Opposition leaders agreed to jointly propose an alternative plan to a government bill to protect personal information. They also agreed that the U.S.-led attacks on Iraq should be stopped immediately.

JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi and lawmaker Sasaki Kensho attended the meeting. (end)