Japan Press Weekly

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2014 July 23 - 29 [POLITICS]

State considers requiring prefectures to reduce public medical expenses

Japan’s welfare ministry is planning to force all 47 prefectures to set a target ceiling for medical expenses with the aim of cutting national health care costs, Akahata learned on July 23.

The government is set to have the Social Security Council discuss the plan and then propose a relevant bill to the Diet next year.

Although each prefecture has its own plan to lower medical costs, none of them have a numerical target for that purpose.

The ministry plans to oblige every prefectural government to establish upper limit targets on medical spending for each type of medical treatment. If failing to attain the goal, the prefecture will face penalties.

The Japan Medical Association (JMA) expressed its opposition to the plan, saying, “This will obstruct offering proper treatment.”

Past related article:
> New law will impose reduced welfare services on the public [June 19, 2014]