The residents of Minami Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, are still being denied full medical services even though more than four months have passed since radiation leaks started from the nearby Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The primary reason for this denial is "buck passing" by the central and prefectural governments.

Shortly after the nuclear plant disaster, the central government instructed those living within 20 km of the plant to evacuate the area and those within 20 to 30 km to "stay home." This split the city of Minami Soma in two.