As the supply shortage of medicines such as cough suppressants continues, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to publish information on drug supply suspensions and shipment restrictions on its website from April this year.
The information will be used by medical institutions and pharmacies to take measures such as securing alternative medicines.
Regarding pharmaceuticals, there continues to be a shortage of supply, mainly in generic drugs, due to a series of quality irregularities.
Currently, the Japan Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers publishes supply information on its website, but it is updated once a month and cannot reflect immediate information, allowing medical institutions and others to grasp the latest drug supply status. The problem was that I couldn't do it.
In response to this situation, starting in April this year, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to publish information on its website about drugs prescribed by doctors whose supply has been suspended or whose shipment has been restricted.
Medical institutions and pharmacies will use the information to take measures such as securing alternative drugs, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will also assess the supply situation and request manufacturers of alternative drugs to increase production. I am planning to do so.
According to a survey by the Japan Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, as of the end of January this year, of the 17,905 pharmaceutical products, 25.9% had undergone "limited shipments" or "supply suspension" to adjust the shipment amount, and many still remain. The supply of medicines is unstable, and it continues to be difficult to obtain necessary medicines at medical institutions and pharmacies.