Japan Press Weekly

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2013 July 24 - 30 [WELFARE]

Birth injury insurance program must be improved: JCP

Akahata on July 28 reported that the narrow range of birth injuries covered by Japan’s obstetric compensation program generates a large amount of surplus, provoking public criticism.

The program was introduced in January 2009 by the Japan Council for Quality Health Care (JCQHC), a public interest incorporated foundation carrying out evaluation and accreditation of medical institutions.

Under the program, parents will receive a total of 30 million yen, including the lump-sum payment of six million yen, if their baby suffers from serious cerebral palsy during the childbirth process.

At the beginning of the program, JCQHC decided to collect 30,000 yen in premiums under the assumption that insurance benefits will be disbursed to 500-800 babies’ parents annually. New mothers pay the premiums to the council through birthing hospitals which join the program.

While JCQHC collects 30 billion yen in premiums each year, insurance benefits are paid to the parents of just 200 infants because the program is applied only to cases of serious cerebral palsy caused during the normal delivery process. As a result, the program generates 20 billion yen annually in surplus.

In this situation, the welfare ministry which has jurisdiction over the council indicated that it will review the type of injuries covered by the program and will consider reducing the insurance premiums.

The Japanese Communist Party has claimed that a public compensation program for birth injuries should be established and the current private program should include a wider range of injuries during the process of giving birth.