COMMENTARY

FY2026 Reform Debate for Drug Pricing Nears the Finish Line, Balance Needed

By Takashi Ebisawa December 9, 2025
Japan has presented its latest draft policy direction for its FY2026 drug pricing reform. While the package includes a string of concrete cost-containment measures aimed at post-patent products, much of the broader agenda was shelved for the next reform cycle,…

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COMMENTARY

Japan’s cost-effectiveness assessment (CEA) panel has approved a revised handling policy for the CEA system for FY2026, with the health…

By Ken Yoshino

Japan’s health and finance ministers agreed late last year to go ahead with an “off-year” drug price revision in FY2027,…

By Philip Carrigan

The Japanese healthcare sector is experiencing rapid growth, demanding a highly skilled and diverse workforce. However, finding and attracting the best talent in this competitive market presents significant challenges.Enter AI. With the rise of AI-powered tools, healthcare organizations can revolutionize…

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By Ken Yoshino

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Japan’s health ministry doled out regulatory approvals for a throng of new medicines on December 27 including Eli Lilly’s obesity…

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