Opposition parties submit a bill to reduce people's share of payment for medical treatment

Japanese Communist, Democratic, Liberal, and Social Democratic parties on April 3 submitted to the House of Representatives a joint bill aimed at reducing insured patients' share of the burden for medical costs to 20 percent from the present 30 percent which came into effect on April 1.

The bill, if enacted, will apply to wage workers and pensioners under 70.

The four opposition parties stated that they will jointly struggle to get the bill enacted in order to defend salaried workers' living conditions which are deteriorating in the severe economic recession. (end)