Japan Press Weekly

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2008 May 14 - 20 [WELFARE]

Elderly carry out sit-in calling for an end to discrimination in medical care

Elderly people and advocacy groups for the elderly on May 14 braved the rain in a day of protest against the medical system that discriminates against the elderly aged 75 and over.

About 600 people, mainly elderly, who are outraged by the new medical system, converged on the Health Ministry and shouted calls for the “abolition” of the discriminatory system, holding placards reading, “Abolish”.

Japan Pensioners’ Union (JPU) Chair Sinozuka Tasuke in his speech said, “This medical system is making it harder for the elderly to survive. It is a system that will have such a serious adverse effect that it must be abolished without delay.”

Yoshino Shizuko, a 76-year-old Yokohama resident, on the previous day collected about 80 signatures in an hour in front of her local railway station. Yoshino said, “I never accept harsh measures against the elderly. I’ll do all I can to increase the struggle in my community.”

In front of the Diet Building, 400 pensioners, workers, and citizens held a sit-in, calling for a drastic revision of the labor laws and the cancellation and abolition of the separate medical system for the elderly aged 75 or over.

This action was organized by the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), the Central Council for Promotion of Social Security, and other civic groups. - Akahata, May 15, 2008