But the country did respond, acting almost immediately in 2006 when, in the words of Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr Mphu K. Ramatlapeng, "we had the scare from South Africa".

尽管困难重重，国家仍旧作出回应，几乎就在2006年卫生和社会福利部部长Mphu K . Ramatlapeng博士说完“南非让我们惊恐不安”之后，立即投入行动。

youdao

With Mr Kato in the political wilderness, the best reformist hope is Junichiro Koizumi, a former minister of health and welfare.

ECONOMIST: Mori-bund | The

Even one of Mr Abe's fiercest critics, Yoichi Masuzoe, who called for his resignation after the upper-house defeat, has been made minister of health and welfare admittedly an unenviable job, since he must clean up the mess of the missing pensions records.

ECONOMIST: Cabinet shuffle in Japan

Pressed by opposition lawmakers in parliament, Yoko Komiyama, minister of welfare, health and labor, has said she would consider reducing welfare payments.

WSJ: Japan Welfare Case Stirs Debate on Who Should Care for Needy