Japan's Chuikyo recommends introduction of generic prescription format in principle

Japan's Chuikyo (the Central Social Insurance Medical Council) has submitted a recommendation on the fiscal 2008 revision of medical fees to Yoichi Masuzoe, the country's Health Minister.

With respect to the pharmaceutical items in the recommendation, it has been decided that there should be a change in the prescription format relating to the use of generic drugs in principle, an increase in the premium rate for a medication's innovativeness, usefulness, pediatric use and orphan status and the extension of the applicable scope for target drugs for recalculation of the national health insurance price, as has been previously reported (Marketletter February 11).

In order to promote the distribution of generic drugs by pharmacies, four points (40 yen; $0.38) of dispensing fees will be newly established in the medical fee system as a premium for a pharmacy which has a rate of over 30% of copy drugs. In addition, a five points (50 yen) reward for a trial dispensing fee for a generic drug (upon shifting from a branded medicine to a copy product) will be set. The generic listing, which until now has been announced in July of each year, will change to May starting in fiscal 2009, the Marketletter's correspondent reports.