DPJ reduces number of long-term care beds in violation of its election promise

Japan Press Weekly

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

DPJ reduces number of long-term care beds in violation of its election promise

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government intends to carry on the former government policy to reduce the number of beds available at long-term facilities providing medical treatment for the elderly.

The DPJ in its election manifest for the 2009 general election stated that the plan to cut long-term care beds should be frozen. However, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Nagatsuma Akira at the January 27 House of Councilors Budget Committee meeting said that the government decided to maintain the plan.

A hospital director in Fukuoka Prefecture angrily said, “I voted for the DPJ because during the 2009 general election, it pledged to keep long-term care beds. Nagatsuma’s remarks violated the election promise. If long-term care beds are eliminated, there will be no facilities to accept elderly patients who need medical treatment and nursing service at the same time. The DPJ must keep its promise.”

Doctor Yoshioka Mitsuru who is involved in a movement opposing the plan to cut long-term care beds stated, “I thought that maintaining long-term care beds was a DPJ election promise. The DPJ-led government decided to abolish long-term care hospital beds because long-term inpatients supposedly need less medical treatment. But, it is just a desk plan to cut the social welfare budget. If hospitals can no longer operate long-term care beds, where shall dementia patients who need medical treatment go?”

Facilities with long-term care beds provide medical treatment and nursing care services for patients, mainly the elderly, who need long-term care.

- Akahata, February 22, 2010