The national government shall improve the current systems in place for supporting consultation and enhancing mental supporting systems so that patients with hepatitis and their family experience improved quality of life during hepatitis treatment. In addition, it is necessary to develop systems to take appropriate measures in order to respect human rights of all patients with hepatitis, and to eliminate unwarranted discrimination including when a patient with hepatitis is unreasonably discriminated.

b) Issues to be considered

i. The national government shall promote information provision to relieve the anxiety of patients with hepatitis, and that of their families and shall provide the opportunity for patients with hepatitis, and their families to communicate with health care workers including physicians in cooperation with prefectural governments.

ii. The national government shall request that the Hepatitis Information Center organize information required by consultants in core centers so that as much information as possible is provided.

iii. The national government shall inform the general public regarding human rights consultation services available through the Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice in cooperation with local governments.

(2) The scope of further support for patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer

Cirrhosis and liver cancer induced by hepatitis have few curative treatments and the population of patients with these conditions is currently aging. Therefore, the following measures shall be taken to relieve the anxiety experienced by patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer.

a) The national government shall promote research into liver diseases including cirrhosis and liver cancer based on the "7-year Strategy for Hepatitis Research". The national and local governments shall also enhance education of human resources such as training of health care workers in order to improve the level of hepatitis treatment related to liver disease including cirrhosis and liver cancer.

b) The national government shall promote information provision to relieve anxiety of patients with hepatitis, including patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer induced by hepatitis, and their families and shall provide the opportunity for patients with hepatitis, and their families, to communicate with health care workers including physicians in cooperation with prefectural governments.

c) In the 2010 fiscal year, some forms of liver dysfunction were classified as a physical disability specified by the Act for the Welfare of Persons with Physical Disabilities (Act No. 283, 1949) under certain conditions. Liver transplantation, anti-immune therapy after liver transplantation, as well as treatment associated with the above, are now classified as disabilities and are the subject of the Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities (rehabilitation treatment) and relevant action shall therefore continue to be taken in these disease areas.

d) The national government shall conduct surveys and research to determine the actual status of hepatitis treatment of patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer and the impact of their disease on their quality of life, in order to collect information necessary to evaluate the scope of further support that may be necessary for patients with hepatitis-associated