MHLW Reports Little Progress In Japan’s Generic Drug Use
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichiro Masuzoe and Treasury Minister Shoichi Nakagawa Dec. 18 announced a plan of reducing ¥220 billion in social insurance growth for fiscal year 2009, in which the real reduction will come from ¥23 billion as a result of generic drug use. However, a report released Dec. 15 by MHLW painted a discouraging picture of generic drug use in Japan, even amidst several pushes from the ministry to promote usage during the year.