2023 Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages 3-8
Drug price standards have two characteristics. On the one hand, it is a list of drugs that can beapplied in medical insurance, and on the other it is a price list of these drugs. In Japan, the total amount of national medical expenditure continues to grow, and the ratio of drugs is about 22%. Consequently, when discussing health insurance and financial resources, the issue of drug prices arises. The 2016-2017 discussion on the “Basic Policy for Fundamental Reform of the Drug Pricing System” states that from the perspective of achieving both “sustainability of universal health insurance” and “promotion of innovation” and realizing “reducing public burden” and “improving the quality of medical care” for public benefit, we will work toward fundamental reform of the drug pricing system. This will be achieved with emphasis on the Plan-do-check-act cycle. In the future, while referring to the drug pricing systems of overseas countries, we must consider drug pricing systems that ensure a drug provision system that aligns with the Japan's medical insurance system.
