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National Commission on Social Security
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Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held the first meeting of the National Commission on Social Security at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.
The Commission was established, with the participation of experts, to discuss such matters as the appropriate modalities for social security, the government's role in the system, and how the burden should be apportioned in such a way that the people can envision the future orientation. Discussions will be conducted from the viewpoint of creating a society in which the people can feel affluence in a real sense and live their lives free from anxiety backed by a trustworthy social security system. In his address, Prime Minister Fukuda said, "The social security system, together with countermeasures against the declining birthrate, is an extremely important challenge that supports the basis of the people's daily lives. Japan sees the progression of the declining birthrate and aging society to an extent unheard of in the world. For instance, the medical care system today faces issues of increasing medical fees and a need for emergency medical services, on top of which we see a shortage of obstetrician-gynecologists and pediatricians that is becoming a major social issue. As for the pension system, we are currently working on the problems surrounding the nation's pension records as an urgent task. Meanwhile, there has been discussion on financing the basic pension entirely from tax revenue, and there is a pending issue of increasing the state contribution to the basic pension." On the modalities of the Commission, the Prime Minister said, "I would like the Committee to have substantial discussions so as to present a future vision of the social security system to the people concerned with the future of their lives. I believe having substantial discussions to be extremely important and would appreciate the Committee's efforts to this end."
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