Japan Press Weekly

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2008 October 15 - 21 [WELFARE]

4 opposition parties jointly call for abolition of unjust healthcare program

The four opposition parties -the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s New parties- on October 15 published a joint statement calling for the “immediate abolition of the new healthcare insurance program” for the elderly aged 75 and over.

The statement severely criticized Health and Welfare Minister Masuzoe Yoichi for forcibly deducting insurance premiums from pension benefits even after he stated that it is necessary to review the new system during the LDP presidential election in September.

JCP Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira said, “The earliest possible enactment of a bill to abolish the discriminatory health insurance system for the elderly is the only way to meet the demands of the people.”