To help fight the nation's falling birthrate, health insurance should cover the costs of fertility treatment, Health minister Chikara Sakaguchi said Wednesday.
"If it's not possible, then we have to think of securing an allocation from the general-account budget," the health, labor and welfare minister said.
Sakaguchi was speaking at the day's session of the House of Representatives' Committee on Health, Labor and Welfare.
As an immediate measure, he said his ministry will consider requesting funds for such treatment in the fiscal 2003 budget.
Sakaguchi earlier announced his intention of using public support measures for fertility treatment. He said the measures will be included in an interim report, expected to be compiled in September, on ways to counter the falling birthrate.
However, debate in the government is centered on whether such treatment should be covered by health insurance or whether social security funds should be used to cover part of the costs.
Although Sakaguchi has voiced his intention to use health insurance, intense debate is expected because many officials in the health ministry are cautious about using sparse insurance funds, while the Finance Ministry is determined to curb social security expenses.