Japan Ends Full Coverage For COVID Therapeutics, Pharma Braces For Price Cuts

Japan has started the stepped reduction of reimbursement of COVID-19 drugs under its national health insurance scheme, aiming to lower this to standard levels by April 2024. Oral antiviral Xocova also looks set to receive a one-off special price cut, over which the local industry has expressed its concerns.

Copayment for COVID therapeutics will be gradually higher for patients to reach the standard of Japan’s NHI scheme by April.
Co-payments for COVID therapeutics in Japan set to rise • Source: Shutterstock

Japan has ended full reimbursement coverage for COVID-19 treatments, including antivirals, under its national health insurance (NHI) scheme and is planning to gradually increase patient co-payments to usual levels over the next six months.

From 1 October to 31 March 2024, individual patients will basically be charged up to a maximum of JPY9,000 ($60) for drugs used in each round of treatment

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