Battling Negative Image Of Generics In Japan

TOKYO - Japan's increasing health insurance costs due to its rapidly aging population prompted the Japanese government to implement policies that promote generic drugs to replace more expensive innovative drugs. However, the ratio of generic use compared to total drug prescriptions still remains low, and Japan saw very little progress in promoting generics in 2008, according to a Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare report (PharmAsia News, Dec. 22, 2008)