Japan Plans Incentives To Pharmacists To Push Generic Drugs (Japan)

Japan's health ministry plans to begin next April providing incentives to pharmacists to get them to push generic versions instead of brand-name drugs. An official says the government, as part of a medical cost-cutting effort, has drafted the plan to be included in a broader review of its medical service fee system. The incentive involves offering pay to pharmacists whose generics sales are at least 30 percent of the medicines they sell. The ministry expects health care spending to grow by 74 percent by 2025. (Click here for more ) "Japan Plans Generic Drug Incentives: Ministry" China Post (Taiwan) (12/7/07)