TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Monday his government will take all possible measures to protect the country’s medical system, as hospitals creak under the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suga this month issued a state of emergency for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures in a bid to stem a resurgence of infections. He expanded it to seven more prefectures, including Osaka and Kyoto in western Japan.
“What is important is to provide necessary medical services to people in need. We will exhaust all measures to safeguard the medical system,” Suga said in his policy speech at the start of a regular session of parliament.
“We are all ready to deploy the Self-Defence Forces’ medical team if requested by governors.”
Japan, though less seriously hit by the pandemic than many other advanced economies, has seen infections spike in recent weeks, prompting Japan Medical Association president Toshio Nakagawa to say the nation’s medical system is…
