JCP calls on all parties to discuss new law to help hepatitis patients

Japan Press Weekly

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

JCP calls on all parties to discuss new law to help hepatitis patients

The Japanese Communist Party on January 28 called on the Liberal Democratic, Democratic, Komei, Social Democratic, and People's New parties to hold a meeting to discuss cooperation in order to enact a permanent law to deal with viral hepatitis.

The JCP move came in response to a call by representatives of the nationwide plaintiffs' group involved in drug-induced hepatitis lawsuits and its lawyers, the nationwide plaintiffs' group in hepatitis B lawsuits and its legal team, and a group of liver disease patients.

The group earlier in the day visited the JCP asking for cooperation to realize the enactment of a hepatitis patient aid law.

A woman who contracted hepatitis B due to inappropriate re-uses of needles in giving vaccinations said, "My son and daughter were also infected with the hepatitis virus. Please help us as soon as possible."

A woman patient of the drug-induced hepatitis C said, "We know that the JCP was the first to extend support to us. The JCP is the closest to us. Please help us solve this problem as a matter of life and death."

JCP representative of the House of Councilors Koike Akira said to the group, "It is essential to create a system that will enable patients to receive medical treatment without anxieties, officially recognize them as disabled in order to provide public livelihood support, and establish a legal framework for prevention measures. The JCP will do its utmost to enact a hepatitis patient aid law in a bipartisan manner forcing the Diet to accept responsibility."

More than 3.5 million people are said to be infected with viral hepatitis B or C in Japan, caused by the government's failure to responsibly regulate blood products, health services, and pharmaceutical affairs.

- Akahata, January 29, 2009