- The Social Security Reform Council of the government and the governing parties announced the outline of medical system reform, which would serve as the basis of the revision bill to be submitted to the ordinary Diet session of next year. However, the outline does not indicate a clear idea for reform of medical services and medical insurance system and it only makes up for the fiscal deficit by increasing patients' burden and premium. It cannot be said to give the sense of security to the people and RENGO does accept it as a government bill.
- The outline includes the following proposals:
| 1) |
Employee’s payment be, when necessary, shifted from 20% to 30%. |
| 2) |
From the fiscal year 2003 the total remuneration system be introduced into employees' health insurance and premium of the state-controlled health insurance be raised. |
| 3) |
The individual coverage limit of high-priced medical expenses be raised. |
| 4) |
The age subject to geriatric medical treatment be shifted from the age 70 to 75 and burden on a patient between the age 70 and 74 be 10% without the monthly limit. |
| 5) |
Guidelines for controlling the increase in medical expenses for the aged be drawn up. |
| 6) |
The medical remuneration for the fiscal year 2002 be reviewed on the basis of the reduction. |
- The medical service reform for the fiscal year 2002 should be done drastically in the areas of medical remuneration, standard prices for medicines, medical services for the aged and overall provision of medical services. However, there is none of these concrete reform bills, and the government is going to postpone the reform, forgetting its commitment. In the meantime, RENGO has pointed out problems included in the draft medical system reform plan of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. It has demanded the government, the governing parties and opposition parties, as well as in the Social Security Council, for implementing drastic medical system reform, reducing medical remuneration and controlling total medical expenses. Moreover, RENGO stresses that under the present economy and employment situation, while the sense of insecurity about living and future among working people is getting more intensified, asking people for more burden is leading to the further aggravation of business and distrust to the social security system.
- Medical reform which should be performed immediately is a drastic reform towards sustainable medical system from the viewpoint of patients, including disclosure of medical information, the establishment of a new medical scheme for the aged and the shift of medical remuneration to "comprehensive, fixed payment". Such reform should be realized in next ordinary Diet session.
- RENGO strives for a drastic reform and the reduction of medical remuneration, with the full support of its affiliates and local RENGO Offices, cooperating with Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers Association) and Kenporen (National Federation of Health Insurance Societies).
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