Regarding the June 4 editorial “An uphill battle to reverse the falling birthrate,” since salaries and wages are unlikely to rise, especially in Japanese companies, it is necessary to make medical care freely available to all who want to conceive children.
For example, in vitro fertilization is expensive in Japan. IVF and fertility treatments should be made free and accessible to all people who want to have children and are physically capable of having them, irrespective of age.
The availability of technology is useful only when it is affordable and people have the will to use it. Many people have inhibitions in using medical technologies. Proper education of such people to convince them to actively use medical technology may be a good way of encouraging people to have more children.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.