Japan MHLW budget request rises 3.2%

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has increased its fiscal year 2008 budget request to 22,160.4 billion yen ($190.58 billion), a 3.2% rise compared to the initial figure asked for in 2007.

Although the increase includes a real rise of 750.0 billion yen, such as for the pension benefits, the Ministry will reduce this by 220.0 billion yen to 530.0 billion yen, mainly through cutting National Health Insurance drug prices and promoting the use of generic drugs.

With regard to the allocations for pharmaceutical-related policies, 29.5 billion yen will be for promoting the discovery and development of innovative drugs and medical devices, an increase of 4.8 billion yen comared to the initial budget request earlier this year. In addition, 11.3 billion yen will go toward measures to ensure the rapid provision of safe and effective drugs and medical devices, a rise of 600.0 million yen.