Japan Press Weekly

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2008 July 23 - 29 [FINANCE]

Major medical organizations jointly urge government to stop further budget cuts on social welfare services

A liaison council composed of Japan’s 40 major medical associations, including the Japan Medical Association and the Japan Dental Association (JDA) held a rally on July 24 in Tokyo to jointly demand that the government end its policy of annual 220 billion yen budget cuts for social programs, which started in FY2002.

Addressing the rally, Japan Medical Association Vice President Takeshima Yasuhiro stated, “Given the fact that discontent is growing among the public over social services, we have decided that it is imperative for us to press the government to admit that the government policy is wrong headed and that the government end its policy of mechanically applying restraint on government expenditure on social services.”

Kodama Takashi, Japan Pharmaceutical Association (JAP) president, said, “The government has no right to take lightly the constitutional right to live (Article 25) under whatever economic circumstances.” - Akahata, July 25, 2008