Activities of the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service
This page introduces the activities of the Corporate Counseling Service for Drugs in a Q&A format so that the activities of the Corporate Counseling Service for Drugs can be widely known.
Since 1995, the Consumer Consultation Review Committee has been engaged in activities such as the way information should be provided and cooperation with other related organizations, with the objectives of "promoting the proper use of drugs," "contributing to the realization of patient-participatory medicine," "improving the reliability of pharmaceutical companies," and "contributing to drug development.
Q&A with the Corporate Pharmaceutical Consultation Service
Q1: When did the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service start operating?
The Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service was established to provide patients, their families, and the general public with information on pharmaceuticals and to improve the consultation system, following the final report of the "Roundtable Conference on the Drugs of the 21st Century" (1993).
The "Consumer Drugs Consultation Office" was opened at the National Institute for Drugs Adverse Reactions Relief and Research Promotion and Investigation (now the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)), while prefectural pharmacists' associations and companies established "Consumer Drugs Consultation Offices".
Q2. Who contacts the Pharmaceutical Consultation Service?
Various people, including pharmacists at insurance pharmacies and hospital pharmacies, as well as patients, are making inquiries to the Pharmaceutical Consultation Office.
JPMA Questionnaire on the system and response status of the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service
conducted in September 2024 (62/69 companies responded)
Q3. What kind of knowledge and skills do the consultants at the Corporate Pharmaceutical Consultation Service have?
In order to provide information on pharmaceuticals promptly, accurately, and sincerely, the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Offices of our member companies continuously acquire relevant knowledge and receive training in responding to inquiries.
Up-to-date knowledge
- Knowledge of all aspects of medicine and pharmacy
- Knowledge of our products
- Knowledge of diseases
- Knowledge of regulatory/industry rules
- Additional knowledge, including the use of digital tools to search for information
Skills
| Communication skills |
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|---|---|
| Information management skills |
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Policy of the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service."
Q4. Can I ask questions to the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service other than by phone?
In addition to telephone calls, questions and inquiries to the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service can be submitted via web form, e-mail, etc. The method of acceptance differs from company to company, so please check the "Contact Us" page on each company's website, etc. for details.
In recent years, the medical environment surrounding pharmaceutical consultation services has been rapidly changing, with the digitalization of drug information due to the spread of the Internet, the super-aging society, the spread of generic drugs, and compliance with various laws, regulations, and guidelines, etc. In response, companies have been working to provide a variety of information on their websites. Companies are also working to provide a variety of information on their websites.
Q5. What kind of questions will the corporate drug consultation service answer?
The Corporate Pharmaceutical Consultation Service provides information on the safety, efficacy, dosage, administration, side effects, etc. of its pharmaceutical products, based on the package inserts and other relevant documents. Inquiries regarding individual medical treatment cannot be answered, so please contact your medical institution (doctor or pharmacist) for treatment-related inquiries.
Q6. How satisfied are you with the response of the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service?
According to the results of an Internet survey (*1) conducted by JPMA in 2024, 100% of those who used the Pharmaceuticals Consultation Service were satisfied (*2) with the service.
The main inquiries of those who used the Pharmaceutical Consultation Service were "effects/indications," "ingredients/characteristics," "side effects," and "how to take.
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1The 18th Survey of Sei-katsu-sha Attitudes Toward Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Industry
The survey targeted 2,000 men and women aged 20 and over (excluding medical professionals, pharmaceutical company employees, etc.). -
2Ratio of "very satisfied" + "fairly satisfied" total
Satisfaction rates for the last three years have remained high: 100% (2012), 91.2% (2011), and 95.7% (2010).