The ruling coalition rammed a set of medical reform bills through a House of Representatives committee meeting Friday, laying the groundwork for an increase in the ratio of medical expenses paid by salaried workers.
Under the bills, workers would be required to pay 30 percent of their medical expenses, up from the current 20 percent, beginning April 2003.
However, the Health, Labor and Welfare Committee was in disarray as ruling bloc members stood up to show their support for the bills while protesting opposition members tussled with committee chairman Eisuke Mori.