Prefectural assemblies demand a freeze on planned increase in patients' share of burden

As of March 25, 22 out of all 47 prefectural assemblies across the country have adopted resolutions calling for a freeze on or a postponement of the 30 percent burden for medical expenses which will take effect from April 1.

Four out of all 12 major city assemblies also passed similar resolutions.

Each resolution by and large states that an increase in medical cost for insured from the present 20 percent to 30 percent will further aggravate the economic slump and affect peoples' livelihoods and well-being.

In all assemblies, members of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties have tried to scrap draft resolutions calling for a freeze of the increase by voting against or abstaining on a vote. However, a trend to move against the adverse revision of the medical expense system is so widespread that in majority of the assemblies that adopted the resolution, LDP members had to vote for it in contradiction to the central LDP's policy.

Especially, the stance of the Komei Party (the Health and Welfare Minister is a Komei member) to hinder draft resolutions from passing was clear in all assemblies. Komei Party members in 17 out of 22 assemblies opposed the draft resolution. In three assemblies, they abstained from voting and in only two assemblies did they vote for it. (end)