INTERVIEW

Ex-Minister Tamura: 3 New Sources of Social Security Funding Needed to Stem Overreliance on Drug Price Cuts

By Yoshinori Sagehashi April 3, 2019
The Japanese cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) scheme is not yet another tool to trim drug spending but a science-based policy that would make drug prices more palatable for stakeholders with conflicting interests, former health minister Norihisa Tamura says. In his interview…

To read the full story

Related Article

INTERVIEW

By Ken Yoshino

Japan’s ruling coalition sustained a crushing blow in the Lower House election last month, only managing to win 215 seats,…

By Philip Carrigan

For over two decades, Morunda has been at the forefront of interviewing and understanding leaders within Japan’s dynamic healthcare industry, particularly in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. What sets apart successful country managers in this competitive arena isn’t just their professional…

A Japanese health ministry panel discussing the generic industry structure on May 22 put together a report in which it…

A Japanese health ministry study group focused on pharmaceutical regulations on March 21 agreed on a policy to encourage the…

The Japanese health ministry on December 22 approved a batch of medicines for additional indications, including Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s atypical antipsychotic Rexulti (brexpiprazole) and Zenyaku Kogyo’s anti-CD20 antibody Rituxan (rituximab).Rexulti is now newly indicated for the treatment of depression and depressive…

Japan’s all-important reimbursement policy panel on December 20 approved an outline of drug pricing reforms for FY2024, which enshrines a…

By Yoshinori Sagehashi

The Japanese health ministry’s expert panel tasked to discuss comprehensive policies for the rapid and stable supply of pharmaceuticals generally…

A key Japanese reimbursement policy panel on December 16 approved the government-backed plan for the FY2023 “off-year” drug price revision.…

Authorized generic (AG) strategies taken by innovative drug makers might help soften the impact of generic competition in their businesses but such tactics might also accelerate the application of “G1”/“G2” price cuts for their off-patent brand-name medicines, a Jiho tally…

Japan’s health ministry announced new NHI prices to be applied in April under the FY2022 drug price revision in the official gazette on March 4, with the earlier application of so-called “G1” price cuts to be implemented for the first…