The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is currently considering allowing the sale of drugs that require face-to-face sales by pharmacists at pharmacies on the condition that pharmacists provide medication guidance via video call.
Since 2014, over-the-counter drugs sold at pharmacies have been allowed to be sold on the Internet, with the exception of some of them, and in 2020, when the infection of the new corona spread, it was expanded to drugs that require a doctor's prescription under certain conditions. Face-to-face sales by pharmacists remained mandatory.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has decided to consider allowing sales on the Internet on the condition that pharmacists provide medication guidance via video call.
This means that almost all medicines will be allowed to be sold online, with the exception of some drugs that require face-to-face information, such as emergency contraception.
On the other hand, we are also considering tightening regulations, such as prohibiting people under the age of 20 from purchasing multiple drugs that are addictive, such as cough suppressants, which have been pointed out to be abused, and requiring pharmacists and others to verify their identities by video call when selling them online.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) will aim to revise the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, which stipulates the method of selling drugs, after discussions at a meeting of experts.