Japan's Health, Labour and Welfare Committee of the House of Councillors passed an amendment to the Health Insurance Act increasing patient costs for certain drugs [1].
The move aims to curb rising national medical expenditures by shifting the financial burden of drugs that are nearly identical to over-the-counter (OTC) products from the state to the patient [5].
The legislation, which passed the House of Representatives on May 28 [4], targets 77 different ingredients and approximately 1,100 individual product items [3]. Under the new rules, patients will pay an additional surcharge for these "OTC-similar drugs" when they are prescribed through the national insurance system [2].
Prime Minister Takaichi said the government believes the plan includes sufficient considerations for low-income individuals, and those requiring long-term medical care [6].
However, some lawmakers expressed concern over the financial impact on vulnerable populations. Rep. Yudai Kawamura (Komeito) said that some patients have expressed concerns that this could lead to "catastrophic medical expenditures" [6].
The implementation of these additional copayments is scheduled to begin in March 2027 [3]. The government intends to use these measures to refine insurance benefits while attempting to protect those with chronic conditions from excessive costs [5].
Earlier this month, on May 7, the government held a study session to further discuss the framework of these changes [7].
“Patients will pay an additional surcharge for these 'OTC-similar drugs' when they are prescribed through the national insurance system.”
This policy shift reflects Japan's struggle to maintain a sustainable universal healthcare system amid an aging population and soaring medical costs. By designating a wide range of drugs as 'OTC-similar,' the government is attempting to discourage the use of prescription channels for medications that can be purchased privately, effectively narrowing the scope of what the state will subsidize.
