Japan Medical Association calls for same prices for original and generic drugs

Setting out its Grand Design 2007, the Japan Medical Association has proposed that the prices of original and generic drugs with the same active ingredient should be the same under the National Health Insurance.

According to the JMA, this will result in both reducing drug costs and supplying patients with high-quality products at low prices. because the brand is regarded as the most reliable in terms of quality, and says that the NIH level should be set by the branded product during patent life and by ingredient after this has expired.

The JMA argues that the goal of supplying patients with high-quality medicines at lower prices must be achieved by reducing the NHI prices of original drugs, rather than through forcing patients to use generic copies. It also says that pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to recover their investment so as to encourage them to continue new drug development.