The Canary Report

Japan to recognize chemical sensitivity as government-insured medical condition

Posted on Jun 13, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Disability Rights, MCS

Japan to add chemical sensitivity to list of government-insured medical conditions.

The Mainichi Daily News reports chemical sensitivity syndrome will make the list of illnesses covered by government insurance in Japan. The Medical Information System Development Center, an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, is planning to make the revision effective Oct. 1.

This marks the first time the government has officially recognized the condition. Whether or not a condition is covered by health insurance is based on this list, and the addition of chemical sensitivity (CS) syndrome is expected to bring relief to the estimated 700,000 people who suffer from the condition and are currently paying treatment expenses.

In May, the Tokyo-based organization Sick House Syndrome Liaison Committee, which had urged the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to officially recognize CS as a medical condition, was advised by the ministry to submit an application for approval to MEDIS-DC. The committee was contacted by MEDIS-DC on June 1 with news that it planned to add CS to the list on Oct. 1.

Link

Photo credit. Offices of Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Thanks Harry, Linda, and Bonita!

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Tags: Chemicals, Environmental Illness, Healthy Living, MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Sick Building, Toxic