| The Central Social Insurance
Medical Council (CHUIKYO) held meetings on December 12 and 14, on reform
of medical consultation expenses in 2002 which is now reaching a crucial
stage. Before the meetings, RENGO conducted its “Urgent Serial Actions
Demanding Lower Medical Expenses” in front of the Health, Labor and
Welfare Ministry where those meetings were to be held. 250 participants
gathered on December 12 and 230 participants on December 14 gathered for
the rally to yell and voice their anger saying, “the government’s
plan for medical reform is extremely problematic.
General Secretary Kusano gave speeches at both meetings appealing that
“our citizen’s anxiety is growing higher and higher during
this long depression. At such a time, the government’s draft for
medical care system reform has many unclear parts, which is why reforming
medical consultation expenses is so crucial.” At the same time,
he strongly stated that “Prime Minister Koizumi claims the reform
plan requires that ‘three-parties suffer together as one’
but we see it as requiring nothing but ‘one-party suffering for
three.’ This is extremely problematic reform. Lowering medical
consultation expenses is the wish of the majority of citizens and RENGO
will work to realize this with all its might.”
CHUIKYO member Yoshitaka (CSG RENGO VP: Japanese Federation of Chemical,
Service and General Trade Unions) declared his resolution at the December
12 rally while Kato (KAGAKU LEAGUE 21 Central Executive Committee Chairperson:
Japanese Federation of Chemistry Workers’ Unions) and Ouchi (Central
Executive Committee Member of KAIIN KUMIAI: All Japan Seamen’s
Union) did so at the rally on the 14th. They said, “we will fight
on bolstering our collaboration with the paying-side (insurers, insurants
and business owners) members to see that medical expenses are lowered.”
Members headed to the CHUIKYO meeting room with the encouragement and
applause of participants from affiliated organizations at the rallies.
Both rallies closed with “angry yells and voices” from all
participants’ at the meeting place CHUIKYO started deliberations.
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