REGULATORY

Japan OKs FY2020 Budget Guidelines, Sets 530 Billion Yen Request Ceiling for Social Security Cost Rise

August 1, 2019
Japan’s Cabinet on July 31 approved its budget formulation guidelines for FY2020, beginning next April. The government will allow a request of up to 530 billion yen in a social security cost increase over the previous year, but the final…

To read the full story

Related Article

REGULATORY

By Tatsuya Otsuka

On paper, things should be looking up for Japan’s pharmaceutical wholesalers. Industry expectations are mounting that the average gap between NHI and market prices will narrow further in FY2026 from the previous year’s record low of 4.8%.A shrinking gap should…

By Hayate Horiguchi

Japan is set to add 16 new drugs to its NHI reimbursement price list on November 13, including a subcutaneous…

Japan will trim the NHI price of Eli Lilly Japan’s Alzheimer’s treatment Kisunla (donanemab) by 3.93% under the cost-effectiveness assessment…

By Shunsuke Tani

Tariffs have been a defining feature of US trade policy under President Donald Trump’s second administration. Since Trump unveiled his “reciprocal” tariff policy in April 2025, the landscape has shifted repeatedly.In February 2026, the US Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed…

By Kohei Hori

As Japan’s budget season draws near, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has renewed its push for a full-scale “off-year” drug…

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) on March 5 unveiled the revised NHI prices for drugs subject to…

Japan’s Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo) on November 5 approved the reimbursement listing for a slate of new medicines,…

The Japanese government approved a bill to amend the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (PMD) Act at its Cabinet meeting on…

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…