Japan Press Weekly

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2011 June 29 - July 5 [WELFARE]

Hepatitis-B plaintiffs sign settlement with gov’t

Plaintiffs of Hepatitis-B lawsuits on June 28 signed a settlement agreement with the government.

Prime Minister Kan Naoto apologized to them by saying, “The government’s effort to prevent the spread of infection turned out to be inadequate. As head of the state, I offer my sincere apology.”

Inappropriate handling of needles at the time of compulsory collective vaccinations resulted in Hepatitis-B infections. Although the authorities foresaw that danger, they left the situation as it was for 40 years.

The agreement requires the state to pay each victim up to 36 million yen in compensation. The government will also take measures to prevent the recurrence and to provide the patients with necessary checkups, treatment, and financial support.

However, estimating the payment of compensation to be 3.2 trillion yen in total, the government is hinting at a possible increase in taxes to cover this cost.

Leader of the plaintiffs’ group Taniguchi Mieko said, “The government should be careful to not make us be seen as a cause of a tax hike.”

The Japanese Communist Party has held meetings with the plaintiffs and their lawyers to listen to their requests, working to help fully resolve the issue at the earliest possible date. The JCP Dietmembers have also frequently taken up Hepatitis-related problems at health and welfare committee meetings in both chambers, pressing the government to give comprehensive relief to the victims.