Abstract
There are still a number of challenges remain in promoting the use of generic drugs in Japan, although the market share of the drugs has been increasing due to the policy inducements, including the revision of the medical fees and the drug pricing system, adopted by the Japanese Government, who set a target on increasing the usage of generic drugs as a government policy. Therefore, in this article, it was examined that what effective policies would be on promoting the usage of generic drugs, in light of the challenges emerging from the transition of the concerning policies, and the surveys on the actual usage of generic drugs. In conclusion, the improved credibility of generic drugs, and the establishment of the drug pricing system that is able to induce economic incentives for patients, would be considered as effective policies on promoting the usage of generic drugs.
