JAPANESE DOCTORS REMAIN WARY OVER GENERICS

The Japanese Medical Association (JMA) is expected to reject planned changes to the prescription system, whereby patients can select generic alternatives even if originally prescribed a branded product.

The JMA's decision comes amid fears about the quality of generic drugs and the accuracy of drug information provided by generic manufacturers. Doctors in the country remain accustomed to prescribing branded drugs and are often unwilling to endorse a generic equivalent, a situation that the new laws were designed to address.

Meanwhile, consumers continue to react tentatively towards low-cost off-patent drugs. A recent survey by a leading local generics manufacturer claimed that although over 90% of patients asked would consider using generics, only a fraction of that number have attempted to get them prescribed.

As a result of this situation, Japan's generics market is considerably under-developed. However, government support for the sector should see it grow sharply over the long term, although greater education about the benefits of generics will be essential for this to occur.