Japan Aims to Improve Injured SDF Members’ Treatment

Tokyo, Sept. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and health minister Kenichiro Ueno on Tuesday confirmed cooperation in improving the country’s life-saving and treatment capability for injured Self-Defense Forces personnel. The defense and health ministries will soon set up a vice-ministerial consultation to study details, including collaboration between the SDF and ordinary medical institutions. The outcome of discussions is expected to be reflected in three key national security-related documents to be updated later this year. Japan has challenges in the SDF’s medicine for war wounds, such as insufficient preparation for collaboration among the front lines, relay stations and destination hospitals, a lack of medical officers and shortages of medical supplies and equipment. At their meeting, Koizumi sought more training opportunities for medical officers and collaboration with medical institutions so that injured troops will be received smoothly. Ueno said the ministry will positively study issues it can cooperate on while paying attention to potential impacts on regional medical provision systems. Speaking at a press conference later, Koizumi said Japan will “make the SDF an organization that cares about members’ lives more than any other organization in the world.” He also expressed an intention to work to prepare measures on posttraumatic stress disorder as well as rehabilitation systems. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]