From JPMA Necessity of Pharmaceutical Industry Policy as a National Strategy

On August 30, 2022, the "Pharmaceutical Association of Japan Press Conference for the President of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan" was held. At this press conference, we explained "the current situation surrounding the pharmaceutical industry, our recognition of the challenges it faces, and the basic framework for solving these challenges.

Recognition of the industry's challenges included "creation of innovation through a nation-wide industrial policy," "transformation of the business model of the pharmaceutical industry," and "measures to control medical costs that rely on drug price reductions.

The cornerstone of a nation's survival and development is its scientific and technological capabilities, and the public and private sectors must work together to create innovation under a national strategy that positions life sciences as a top-priority field. As an industry, in order to respond to the change in business models from vertical integration to horizontal division of labor and the change in the modalities of pharmaceuticals, we must respond to the expansion of health care needs by making our own business models support the extension of healthy life expectancy of the people, including prediction, prevention, and prediction of disease onset. He emphasized the need for our own business model to meet the growing health care needs of the public, including prediction, prevention, and disease prediction.

At the press conference, he also pointed out the importance of heightened national debate on how to ensure the sustainability of universal health insurance in the face of limited social security financial resources. On the other hand, in order for the Japanese people to have access to innovative new drugs without lagging behind the rest of the world, it is necessary to shift to a market that realizes growth of patented drugs comparable to that of developed countries in Europe and the U.S. He explained the content of the recommendations made by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan regarding a new value evaluation system for drugs and a new drug price system that will contribute to the realization of this goal. The new NHI system will contribute to the realization of such a shift.

The pharmaceutical industry policy as a national strategy, specifically the "development of an internationally competitive pharmaceutical industry" and the "creation of a market for early access to innovative new drugs" will play an important role in "extending the healthy life expectancy of the people," "Japan's economic growth," and "national security. By implementing these pharmaceutical industry policies in cooperation with the public and private sectors, we, the pharmaceutical industry, will make a solid contribution to the nation and its people.

For details of the Chairman's press conference, please refer to the November 2022 issue of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan Newsletter, No. 212, Top News.

(From the August 30, 2022 press conference by the head of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan)