Social Security Reform Study Group Holds Meeting Thursday, November 29, 2001 The Social Security Reform Study Group of the Government and Ruling Parties held a meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, a report by the Study Group's Working Team on the reform of the medical system was explained by the Chairman of the Group's Working Team, Sohei Miyashita. At the closing of the meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated, "I really appreciate the efforts of the Working Team toward finalizing the report in recent days from early in the morning to late at night. Amid severe conditions, we have succeeded in carrying through the policy where three parties, medical institutions, insurers and patients, will jointly bear the cost of medical care. Accordingly, we have been able to sustain our universal health care insurance system of which we can be proud around the world. I would like to request all individuals and organizations concerned to redouble their efforts toward the implementation of reform based on this policy."