Opposition parties together hold rally demanding cancellation of medical-care system forcing the elderly to pay more

Four opposition parties together held an urgent rally on March 5 in the House of Representatives Office Building demanding the cancellation of the new medical-care system planned to be introduced in April because it will force the elderly aged 75 and over to shoulder an additional financial burden.

The rally was attended by about 200 people, including representatives of the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s New parties as well as elderly people and representatives of medical organizations.

“The medical-care system for the elderly” will make it compulsory for all people aged 75 and older to be enrolled in the scheme. The insurance premium is automatically deducted from their pension benefits. The insurance premium will be automatically raised when the number of people aged 75 and more has increased.

Criticizing the new medical-care system in his speech, JCP Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira said, “Public anger is spreading rapidly at the scheme that will remove people at the age of 75 from the national health insurance system and drive them into a separate system. No countries with a universal health-care system are separating the elderly in such a discriminatory manner.”

The four opposition parties on February 28 together submitted a bill to revoke the adverse medical-care system targeting the elderly.

This was the first rally to be held by the four opposition parties since the July Upper House election.

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On the same day, about 300 people took part in a rally in front of the Diet building calling for passage of the opposition parties’ bill to cancel the planned introduction of the adverse medical-care insurance system for the elderly 75 and older.

The rally was organized by the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the Central Council for Promotion of Social Security.

Zenroren Secretary General Odagawa Yoshikazu said that the national trade union center will do all it can to get the adverse medical-care system revoked during the current 2008 Spring Struggle that is focused on the fight to eradicate poverty.

- Akahata, March 6, 2008