Upper House passes bill to abolish discriminatory health insurance system for the elderly

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Upper House passes bill to abolish discriminatory health insurance system for the elderly

The bill submitted by four opposition parties to abolish the discriminatory medical-system for the elderly aged 75 and over was sent to the House of Representatives on June 6 after passing through the opposition controlled House of Councilors.

The bill, submitted in the House of Councilors by the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s New parties, was approved unanimously on June 5 by the full House.

The ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties boycotted the vote.

At the committee meeting on the previous day, JCP representative Inoue Satoshi criticized the new medical insurance system by pointing out that the percentage of government funds to cover medical costs for the elderly has declined since the introduction of the new system. “This is contrary to the government promise that tax money would be used primarily for medical costs for the elderly,” he said.

At a news conference in the Diet on June 5, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo said that the JCP will do its utmost to get the bill enacted after approved by the House of Representatives.

Earlier in the day, the ruling LDP-Komei block members of the House of Councilors Health, Labor, and Welfare Committee submitted a no-confidence motion against the Committee Chair Iwamoto Tsukasa (DPJ) for his “high-handedness”.

The opposition parties voted down the motion, and the ruling party members walked out of the room refusing to participate in any further deliberation.

- Akahata, June 6, 2008