Nicotine Addiction Treatment
Japanese government to help smokers quit
TOKYO, Japan (UPI) -- Japanese nicotine addicts will soon be able to quit smoking under a new plan promoted by the government and paid for by public health insurance.
Those receiving the treatment will pay only 30 percent of the medical costs, while those aged 70 or older will pay only 10 to 20 percent, the Asahi Shimbun reported Wednesday.
Health ministry officials said Tuesday that although initial medical costs would rise, the long-term effects would greatly benefit Japanese society.
Officials estimated that the smoking rate among men would drop from 47 percent in 2003 to 26 percent by 2020, and the rate among women would fall from 11 percent to 9 percent.
By 2020, officials estimated, the government will have saved about $1.57 billion in medical expenditures on smoking-related illnesses.
Insurance would cover nicotine addicts willing to enter a smoking cessation program under the guidance of doctors. The program would include counseling sessions, the wearing of nicotine patches, and a total of five hospital visits over three months..."
United Press International, November 9, 2005
TOKYO, Japan (UPI) -- Japanese nicotine addicts will soon be able to quit smoking under a new plan promoted by the government and paid for by public health insurance.
Those receiving the treatment will pay only 30 percent of the medical costs, while those aged 70 or older will pay only 10 to 20 percent, the Asahi Shimbun reported Wednesday.
Health ministry officials said Tuesday that although initial medical costs would rise, the long-term effects would greatly benefit Japanese society.
Officials estimated that the smoking rate among men would drop from 47 percent in 2003 to 26 percent by 2020, and the rate among women would fall from 11 percent to 9 percent.
By 2020, officials estimated, the government will have saved about $1.57 billion in medical expenditures on smoking-related illnesses.
Insurance would cover nicotine addicts willing to enter a smoking cessation program under the guidance of doctors. The program would include counseling sessions, the wearing of nicotine patches, and a total of five hospital visits over three months..."
United Press International, November 9, 2005
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