Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on April 14 arrested Usuda Sadao, Japan Dental Association chair, and former Social Insurance Agency Chief Shimomura Takeshi, on bribery charges.
Investigators suspect that Usuda bribed members of the Central Social Insurance Council in an attempt to get the CSIC to request the health, labor, and welfare minister for an increase in remunerations for dental treatment.
The Japanese Communist Party's parliamentary task force on political corruption on April 15 decided on a policy to thoroughly examine the JDA bribery scandal, which seriously affects health administration.
On the same day, JCP representative Koike Akira in a House of Councilors committee meeting stated that the financial and organizational unity between the JDA and its political arm Japan Dentists League is a major cause of corruption involving buying political influence.
The Dental Association is the single largest political fund donor to the Liberal Democratic Party. It also donates money to Dietmembers of the Komei and Democratic parties. Its donations from 2000 to 2002 amounted to 2.2 billion yen.
Koike pointed out that the responsibility of the HL&W Ministry is great since it is in charge of matters related to medical remuneration that affects people's health. (end)
