BY YUKI TAKAHASHI

Next April a system of nursing care insurance will be introduced. The actual circumstances of the welfare of the aged had no provision until now, as we face the aging society.

When the system starts we will pay a fixed sum insurance premium every month, and if aged people are judged on need of nursing care, they can choose a service and must pay the first 10 percent of this insurance premium. The rest of the premium is covered by the government. The need of nursing care is classified into six grades by the insurance system which are nursing care needs level 1~5, and level 6, the need for support. In the case of nursing care at home, they can choose a service from 360,000 yen to 64,000 yen.

There is one method with two grades in Japan to help doctors classify aged people into nursing care need levels 1~5, or determine the need for support. The first judgment is done by computer. The second judgment is done by a jury of doctors and welfare experts.

However, there is a big problem in the system of the judgment. In the first judgment, a gap between the results of judgments of the computer accounts for the problem.

For example, a man has paralysis in both arms and legs and he is bedridden and can't eat or drink by himself or go to the toilet. He must have someone's help to live. Under these circumstances a doctor would think that such a man should receive the most comprehensive care. But the computer judged his needs to be at level 3. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the final judgment is done by humans and places special emphasis on the weight of the second judgment.

But there is also a problem in the second judgment. The city of Yamaguchi held a mock judgment and tried to judge fifteen people who are hard to judge clearly. When different doctors judged the same person the levels ranged form 2 to 4. In another case, when groups made a judgment the results were all different.

Although there are many problems with this system, businesses and the general public are interested in it. So the level of the welfare will certainly improve. This system requires that we pay for this insurance premium. The government must insure our stability in our old age. The government must be liable for this.

Now the Diet is talking about changing the payment of the insurance premium in 2000 or 2001. But this was already set before. Once the Diet sets something, it must not change it. We do not think this deed is very accountable. The government should aim for a good society where the disabled feel happy in their daily lives. The government cannot forget that there are many people who look forward to finally setting the system. And once the Diet sets it, the Diet should practice it as it is.