Japan Press Weekly

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2014 March 26 - April 1 [WELFARE]

JCP city mayor decides to extend free medical service to 18-year-old children

Backed by the Japanese Communist Party, Kagoshima’s Soo City Mayor Goitsuka Tsuyoshi succeeded in extending free medical service to cover children up to 18 years old, which was one of his campaign promises.

The Soo City Assembly on March 26 approved a draft budget for FY 2014 as proposed by the JCP mayor. This is the first budget that Goitsuka drew up after the inauguration of his administration in July last year.

The 2014 budget also includes costs to reduce parents’ payments for day nursery, give citizens a 24-hour medical hotline consultation service by medical experts, and provide a lump sum allowance for the elderly aged 75 and older.

JCP member of the city assembly Miyasako Masaru at an assembly meeting before the voting stated that drastic measures should be taken as an urgent task to tackle the falling birthrate. Stressing that more and more municipalities are raising the maximum age eligible for free medical care for children, he expressed his approval to the draft budget.

After the vote, Mayor Goitsuka said, “I put emphasis on support measures for the households with young children. I am grateful that the draft budget for things I promised during the election campaign was approved in the original form.”

Kumagai Michihiro, who heads a support group for Goitsuka, commenting on the passage of the budget bill said, “The budget is friendly to the general public and will meet their demands.”

Past related article
> JCP candidate wins mayoral election in Kagoshima [July 23, 2013]