nursing_care

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP demands cancellation of increase in burden of cost for nursing care services

The Japanese Communist Party on September 26 demanded that the collection of full amounts of fees for meals and beds from October 1 at nursing care facilities be canceled.

JCP Deitmembers visited Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Otsuji Hidehisa and pointed out that many users are canceling their reservations for nursing homes or refraining from using short-stay services in fear of the increase in their burden of costs for these services.

House of Councilors member Koike Akira requested that the ministry conduct a fact-finding survey on municipalities and nursing care facilities in order to ensure that no one who needs care services will have to give them up because of the increase in users' burden of costs, and that low-income earners can receive relief measures.

Koike also called on the government to not interfere with municipalities that extend relief measures to the needy.

The welfare minister said that it is difficult to cancel the October implementation, but he promised to take steps to prevent people in need of nursing care from being discouraged from using services and to carry out a fact-finding survey. Concerning interference from the government on municipality's original relief measures, he said, "We are not contemplating taking such a measure." -- Akahata, September 27, 2005