As there are cases where foreigners who cannot get health insurance are required to bear high medical expenses and cannot receive medical care, an organization created by a medical institution has submitted a request to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Justice for improvement. I submitted it.
The request was submitted by the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions, an organization created by medical institutions nationwide, and met on the 29th.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, foreigners who have been granted a period of stay of 3 months or less or who are applying for refugee status cannot take out health insurance and will have to pay the full amount of medical expenses. increase.
For this reason, according to the group, there are cases where medical institutions are required to bear high medical expenses when they get sick and cannot receive medical treatment.
The request form asks the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Justice to consider measures for improvement, such as the government paying medical expenses if foreigners who need medical care cannot take out health insurance.
An Iranian man who was applying for refugee status at the press conference said, "There are many foreigners who cannot receive medical treatment even if they get sick, which is a life-threatening problem. The system is based on the status of residence. Is wrong. "
Keisuke Kishimoto, Executive Secretary of the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Association, said, "I want the country to promptly establish a system to guarantee medical care."
The General Affairs Division, Social Assistance Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare commented, "The written request has not arrived yet and I would like to confirm the contents."