The Japanese government has launched a public review of its high-cost medical expense policy, receiving a remarkable tally of 5,300 comments. This review allows citizens to express their views on the contentious issue of high medical costs for treatments of severe diseases. It comes after growing concerns about the system's sustainability, amidst an aging population and skyrocketing healthcare expenditures.

In Japan, there's a system that caps monthly out-of-pocket medical expenses for patients who suffer from severe diseases. However, with an aging society and rising healthcare costs, there's widespread concern about its future viability. For many Japanese people, health care affordability is a top issue, and there are increasing calls for a policy overhaul.

In the US, out-of-pocket costs for healthcare can be significantly high, and public opinion has a less direct impact on healthcare policies. In the EU, healthcare systems vary by country, but most feature universal healthcare with varying degrees of patient contribution. Public opinion plays a significant role in policy-making in some countries.