Government bullies municipalities for not charging for children’s medical costs

   The government has cut a total of 38.1 billion yen in FY 2000-2005 in state subsidies for medical costs to municipalities that are reducing or exempting children’s medical charges to be paid at hospitals. The Ministry revealed this in reply to an inquiry made by Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Koike Akira.

   Tenacious efforts of parents and medical workers across the country have increased the number of municipalities introducing a system of exempting children from being charged for medical costs. The government policy is punishing these moves by cuts in subsidies.

   The Health Ministry claims that municipality measures to exempt medical charges to be paid at hospitals is contributing to a growing number of patients, thus increasing medical costs.

   The state measure has imposed extra financial burdens on relevant municipalities causing serious obstacles to the expansion of such a system. These municipalities have repeatedly submitted to the state petitions calling for the abolition of the measure.

   Commenting on the issue, Koike said, “The government measure to reduce subsidies is a penalty on municipalities that have responded to parents’ wishes for free medical care for children. This goes against residents’ welfare as well as the principle of local autonomy and must be put to an end immediately. We strongly demand that the state introduce a system to provide children medical services free of charge.”                                                                          - Akahata, September 3, 2007