Dear Neil and all
Thank you to HIFA and CHIFA for accepting Min-Iren as a supporting member.
Even in Japan, a high-income country, the economy prioritises the interests of major shareholders and large corporations, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary workers. The neoliberal framework has widened inequality, and medical cost containment policies of conservative coalition parties controlled by the US, even more than in Europe, have put pressure on the public healthcare system.
In these difficulties, Min-Iren operates under the banner of a medical institution for working people, supporting economically disadvantaged families.
I hope to use this opportunity to share information from the organisation and the Japanese medical insurance.
I am currently a university professor, but I also continue to see patients at Min-Iren's clinic as a paediatrician, even if it's less than once a week.
Thank you.
Hajime
CHIFA profile:
Hajime Takeuchi is a professor at the Bukkyo University in Japan. Professional interests: child health, child poverty, child wellbeing. takechanespid@gmail.com He is a CHIFA Country Representative for Japan and a member of the CHIFA Steering Group (child health and rights) http://www.hifa.org/support/members/hajime takechanespid AT gmail.com