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

Don't cut insurance-covered medical services!
Akahata editorial, April 14 (excerpts)

A Koizumi Cabinet-proposed bill to "reform" the medical service system is designed to bring about a full-scale introduction of the "mixed-medical services" scheme to extend the range of treatments not covered by the public health insurance as well as increase the burdens of medical costs on senior citizens and seriously-ill patients and bring about a reduction of hospital beds.

The "mixed-medical services" plan that forces patients to bear high expenses has been applicable only to such exceptional cases as amenity beds. However, the bill will extend the application of the "mixed-medical services" plan to "advanced-medical technologies" and "hospital living expenses."

* The bill will exclude from the insurance benefits the expenses for meals and beds of inpatients aged 70 and older in the name of "hospital living expenses."

The fundamental aim of the public health insurance system is to provide patients with needed medical services under the coverage of the insurance. Expensive treatments such as dialysis treatment, intraocular lens implants, and organ transplants that were initially excluded from the coverage have also become covered by the insurance.

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro has no intention of promptly extending coverage to highly-advanced medical treatments and medicines approved in foreign countries.

The implementation of the "mixed-medical services" scheme to expand out-of-insurance treatments is nothing other than a plan to destroy the public health insurance system that covers all needed medical services.

The complete removal of restrictions on the "mixed-medical services" has been demanded by Japanese business circles seeking to curb their share of medical insurance premiums as well as by the U.S. healthcare industry and U.S. insurance companies exploring new business opportunities.

Cutbacks in the insurance coverage will lead to the widening of gaps in medical services in proportion to income disparities.

It is time now to increase public opposition to adverse revisions that will bring about disparities in the medical services between the rich and the poor.
- Akahata, April 14, 2006