The government is likely to appeal a local court ruling that would extend state health care benefits to those beyond the currently recognized zone of the U.S. nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, sources close to the matter said Monday.
The government is currently in final talks with the Hiroshima Prefectural Government and the municipal government ahead of Wednesday's deadline for an appeal, the sources said.
Although the local governments entrusted with the administrative duty of screening applicants for A-bomb health care aid were sued in the trial, the state is also participating in the legal battle and is empowered to appeal the ruling because it designed the health care policy.