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Japan PM Delays Revision Of High-Cost Healthcare Benefit After Patient Protests

 
• By Lisa Takagi

A plan to reduce benefits under Japan's financial safety net for patients contributing to the costs of their long-term medical care is being reconsidered by the government following protests from patient and doctor groups.

PM Ishiba and patient groups
Japan's prime minister Shigeru Ishiba (second from the right) and health minister Takamaro Fukuoka (right) met with patients group on High-Cost Healthcare Benefit scheme on 7 March right before announcing the decision to halt its revision. (Cabinet Public Affairs Office of Japan)

Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba has abruptly decided to freeze a plan to revise the country’s High-Cost Healthcare Benefit scheme after protests from patients’ groups and caucus parties. The revisions, which would have reduced payments under the scheme, were originally planned to take effect in August.

The abrupt turnaround came right after Ishiba met with patients’ groups to hear their concerns on 7 March and the prime minister noted in an official statement that the government...

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