The Upper House Committee on Health and Welfare on Tuesday approved a government-proposed bill to create a public nursing-care insurance system for Japan's ailing elderly population, after introducing a revision concerning care services.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, an ally of the LDP, supported the bill. New Party Sakigake, the LDP's other ally, has no representation on the committee.
The Democratic Party of Japan, the second largest opposition force, and the small Taiyo Party also supported the measure, saying the implementation of such a system is urgent because the nation is graying at an unprecedented pace.