60% of Japanese prescriptions allow use of generic copies, JPA survey finds

In Japan, the ratio of prescriptions in which physicians did not sign in the column saying "do not change to generic drugs" was 59.8% (numbering a total of 330,600), according to the interim results of a survey on the use of off-patent medicines - a practice that the government is encouraging in order to save on health spending - conducted by the Japan Pharmaceutical Association.

The results were presented by the JPA president Nobuo Yamamoto to the Chuikyo (the Central Social Health Insurance Medical Council).

The survey was conducted among 2,000 pharmacies throughout the country from September through October. The collection rate was 22.5% (450 pharmacies).