health

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

Shortage of maternity hospitals needs to be solved
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

A report compiled by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry last December showed that both local residents and municipalities hope to have obstetricians in their communities available so that everyone can receive medical service at anytime when necessary.

The reality, however, is serious. One after another, hospitals have abandoned their obstetrics departments.

As maternity departments disappeared from many municipality-run hospitals, more pregnant women have to travel one or two hours by car to a medical institution. In not a few cases, they give birth in cars, or even when bleeding, they hesitate to go to the hospital to obtain appropriate treatment.

The number of hospitals equipped with an obstetrics and gynecology department in 2004 decreased by 26.4 percent from 1996. For state-run hospitals, the rate was 33 percent. Given the fact that among hospitals with an obstetrics and gynecology department government and municipality-run hospitals account for more than 40 percent, the government and municipalities bear a grave responsibility for the deficiency.

Quite a lot of municipalities have decided to close their maternity wards as part of ﾒadministrative reformﾓ policies. The closing of maternity hospitals or obstetrics departments directly affects the lives of mothers and their children, running counter to the stated policy of dealing with the falling birthrate. These municipalities are abandoning their role to promote measures for residentsﾕ safety and welfare.

It is urgently necessary to establish a system in which every expectant mother can give birth without anxieties and to take budgetary steps to this end.
- Akahata, April 6, 2006