Japan Press Weekly

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2008 July 16 - 22 [POLITICS]

Government plans to cut 115,000 beds at health facilities for recuperation

Akahata has learned that most prefectural governments say they will reduce the number of beds available at long-term facilities for medical treatment of the elderly.

Under the direction of the central government, prefectural governments set their targets for the reduction. By the end of March 2013, 115,000 beds will have been eliminated.

Although the number is less than the government’s initial target of 230,000, many people are likely to be denied access to medical treatment and nursing care they need.

In 2006, the government formulated the plan to reduce the number of beds at long-term care medical facilities from 380,000 to 150,000, the aim being to restrain medical expenditure through reducing available hospital beds.

An Akahata survey has found that many prefectural government officials are saying that the government scheme imposed on prefectures “will leave many elderly patients without facilities for medical treatment because there is a shortage of nursing care facilities that should accept them after being driven out of hospitals.”

The Japanese Communist Party is urging the government to cancel the plan to reduce such a large number of health facilities for medical treatment.
- Akahata, July 22, 2008