Editorial

17:05 JST, March 24, 2025

How to curb ever-increasing medical expenses is an important task to study. That being said, carelessly reducing pharmaceutical costs to serve the interests of political parties would only cause turmoil in frontline medical institutions.

It is necessary to proceed with reform while keeping an eye on the overall social security system, taking into consideration the viewpoint of patients who would have to bear an increased burden and the viewpoint of hospital management.

Working-level talks between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito, and the Japan Innovation Party have begun regarding reform of the social security system. The focus is on how to reduce pharmaceutical expenses.

There are two types of medicine prescribed by doctors: Prescription drugs that could be harmful to a person’s health if taken........

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