“There were some people who died at home or saw their conditions worsen because they were not able to swiftly receive treatment after testing positive for the coronavirus,” said Goto, who assumed the post under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office last week.
While new COVID-19 cases are on the decline in the 19 prefectures, medical systems are still burdened there, government officials said.
The move is seen as a major step toward enabling the procedure, in which women without a uterus receive the organ from donors for the purpose of conceiving and giving birth. Research on the procedure has been conducted at Keio University and other institutions in Japan.
Kyoto University Hospital said Thursday it has performed the world’s first living donor lung transplant into a patient with lung damage from the novel coronavirus.
The burden rate of medical fees will go up to 20 pct from 10 pct at present if the bill is enacted. The income threshold will be 3.2 million yen for two-member households in which both are 75 or older.
The Japanese government is expected to prioritize medical workers and elderly people for vaccination against COVID-19, as work to develop vaccines for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus shifts into full gear.
The Japan Medical Association on Saturday elected Vice President Toshio Nakagawa its new president, replacing incumbent Yoshitake Yokokura, who has maintained close ties with the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The leadership change may affect the relationship between the association, a key supporter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and the Abe administration, observers said.
Barrier Free Japan