|
Japan Press Weekly
|
|
|
| home | about us | JCP | books | special issues | past issues | links | mail to editor | fact box |
|
|
| Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan | |
|
JCP chair holds talks with local officials of Japan Medical Federation In Chiba Prefecture on February 18, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo for the first time held talks with local branch officials of the Japan Medical Federation, a political group of the Japan Medical Association and long supporter of the Liberal Democratic Party. About 80 people, including members of the Chiba Prefectural Medical Federation as well as JCP prefectural and city assembly members took part in the meeting. Fujimori Munenori, chairing the medical federationfs local branch, stated, gTaking into account patientsf concerns, we totally understand what the JCP is calling for. As medical expenditures were restrained under the LDP-led Koizumi Cabinet, we recognized that supporting only one political party is not good. Wefd like to exchange ideas with many parties and join forces with them if possible in order to protect citizensf health.h Shii raised three issues that the JCP hopes to address in cooperation with the medical organization. The first is to raise the amount of remuneration for medical treatment. Shii pointed out that the decrease in the amount by 2.6 trillion yen from 2002 to 2008 delivered a fatal blow to local medical facilities. The second is to lower the medical costs patients have to pay at hospitals. While it was an opposition force, the Democratic Party of Japan insisted that requiring patients to cover 30 percent of their medical costs discourages them from going to hospitals for treatment and submitted a bill to lower the rate with three other opposition parties. However, it now claims that cannot be accomplished. The third is to abolish the medical insurance system for the elderly aged 75 and older. Shii criticized the new government for postponing abolishing the discriminatory system for four years. The JCP chair stated that the party hopes to work together with any organizations based on common demands. |
|
|
Copyright (c) Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. All right reserved info@japan-press.co.jp |