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Generics Push Continues With New Measures In Japan

Patients To Pay Part Of Price Difference When Insisting On Branded Drugs

 
• By Lisa Takagi

Japan has started to charge patients a portion of the difference between the reimbursement price of the generic and non-generic product if they insist on the latter without a supporting recommendation from the prescribing physician, in a policy designed to further drive generic use.

Japan aims to expand its generic share by charging extra for non-generic options.
Japan aims to expand its generic share by charging extra for non-generic options • Source: Shutterstock

Japan has long been implementing policies to raise the volume share of generic drugs to help control rising healthcare costs. From 1 October, the country has newly started to charge extra for non-generic pharmaceutical products, excluding biopharma drugs, under several conditions.

When receiving a prescribed drug, if a patient insists on a non-generic option without any specific medical reasons from the prescribing physician, an extra charge will be levied, equal to the sum of a quarter of the

Key Takeaways
  • Japan has started charging patients extra for non-generic drugs from 1 October to further raise generic use and control healthcare costs.
  • The country aims raise the volume share of generics to 80% in all 47 prefectures, and to 65% on a price basis, by the end of March 2026

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