Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday that the central government has decided to give up on appealing a recent ruling that recognized 84 people exposed to radioactive "black rain" in Hiroshima Prefecture as eligible for state health care benefits.

The Hiroshima High Court ruled earlier this month that the people are eligible for the aid even though they were exposed to the radiation following the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing outside an area recognized by the state. The deadline for appealing the ruling was set for Wednesday.

"I have reached the conclusion that we should quickly save these people, given that many of them are elderly and some have illnesses," Suga told reporters.