November 2, 2026

Doctor-turned Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira (Senate) on November 1 attended a celebration which the Japan Medical Association held in Tokyo to commemorate the 79th anniversary of its founding.

Koike, along with lawmakers from other political parties, delivered a speech.

Koike in his speech noted that the government is considering setting the patient co-payment for the elderly at 30% as a general rule. He said that this will cause elderly people to refrain from seeing a doctor due to financial distress, resulting in a decline in their health conditions. He expressed his determination to work together with the JMA to put a stop to such a move.

Koike had friendly conversations with JMA President Matsumoto Kichiro, other JMA executives, and heads of local medical associations.