Japan Press Weekly

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2017 November 1 - 7 [JCP]

JCP Koike speaks at medical association gathering

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira, a member of the House of Councilors, on November 1 spoke at a Japan Medical Association's gathering held as part of the association's 70th anniversary celebration.

Koike, who is also a physician, offered his congratulations to JMA President Yokokura Yoshitake for assuming the presidency of the World Medical Association, and expressed the JCP position by stating, "Our party will confront point-blank the government aiming at cuts next fiscal year in the state remuneration for medical services as well as in the budget for social security. The party will also face off with the ruling coalition intent to increase the financial burden on patients."

He received a round of applause when he said, "The JCP will make utmost efforts to improve the standards of healthcare and nursing care. The medical and nursing-care fields hold enormous potential for job creation, but the government is targeting these areas for cutbacks. It has no right to speak about a growth strategy!"

Koike attended this event to which a lot of Liberal Democratic Party politicians were also invited. He had warm conversations with JMA President Yokokura, other JMA executives, and local medical association chairpersons.