Distribution Improvement Committee
The scope of the Committee's activities is to improve the efficiency and quality of transactions involved in the process from delivery from manufacturers to medical institutions and dispensing pharmacies. However, pharmaceutical distribution still faces various challenges, and continuous improvement is required to realize stable supply and high quality transactions. At the 40th "Roundtable Meeting on Improvement of Distribution of Ethical Drugs" held on November 5, 2025, a report was made on a survey of reverse Zaya transactions, in which the partition price or delivery price exceeds the NHI price, and its increase was confirmed for generics and other products. Although it is not usual in the insurance system to see prices that exceed the NHI price, the eight consecutive years of NHI price revisions, as well as soaring raw material, labor, and delivery costs, are thought to be contributing factors, and the sustainability of the distribution system, including the system, is now in jeopardy. Rather than waiting for changes in the system and the International Affairs Committee, the Committee must improve the efficiency and quality of pharmaceutical distribution by itself and in collaboration with related stakeholders. The current distribution system contains the risk that it will become difficult to maintain a stable supply in the future, and it is essential to take active measures even before the problems become apparent. In addition to resolving current issues, the Committee has the responsibility to continue to consider the realization of sustainable drug distribution in the future.
Activity Policy
The Distribution Improvement Committee shall promote activities with the aim of contributing to the healthy lives of people for whom medicines are delivered in a stable manner by working to resolve the current issues facing the distribution of medicines and to realize a stable supply in the future. In order to improve the efficiency and quality of pharmaceutical distribution, ensure the delivery of high quality pharmaceuticals, and provide and collect appropriate information to healthcare professionals, the Committee shall conduct studies and discussions on systems, business transactions, information provision and collection activities, and logistics with broad insight and out-of-the-box thinking.
Priority Issues (each subcommittee is in charge)
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In order to ensure sustainable distribution of ethical pharmaceuticals in the future, the Commercial Subcommittee will investigate, analyze, and discuss matters related to commercial distribution and logistics, focusing on quality assurance, stable supply, realization of logistics efficiency, and sound market formation.
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Investigate and analyze the impact of changes in laws, systems, and the environment related to healthcare on the promotional activities of pharmaceutical companies, and study and make recommendations on what the industry should be and the issues that need to be addressed (Promotion Subcommittee)
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To grasp the trends in the medical care system, centering on the reimbursement system and the drug price standard system, and to examine and evaluate the impact on the distribution of ethical drugs. (Medical System Subcommittee)
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Grasp the status of studies for the expansion of utilization in medical care and distribution, including auditing, recording, data linkage, and efficiency improvement using specific code utilization methods, and analyze and build opinions from the manufacturer's perspective. (Code and ICT Subcommittee)
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To contribute to further rationalization and standardization of ethical drug transactions, the Sub-Committee will take necessary actions, such as continuous monitoring and investigation of trends in overall ethical drug distribution, and organizing issues to be addressed in the ethical drug transaction data exchange system. (Information System Subcommittee)
Initiatives
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Based on the issues presented in the "Expert Panel" and the "Revised Guidelines for Improvement of Distribution," and based on the discussions at the Meeting for Improvement of Distribution, the Subcommittee will promote efforts to realize distribution improvement.
In addition, in order to improve distribution efficiency, the progress status and issues of the "Voluntary Action Plan for Optimization of Distribution and Productivity Improvement" will be identified and organized.
Furthermore, the Sub-Committee will analyze changes in the external environment, systems and technologies, and make proposals for the realization of sustainable pharmaceutical distribution through ensuring transparency and fairness in pharmaceutical transactions and improving stable supply and efficiency. (Commercial Distribution and Logistics Subcommittee) -
Conduct surveys and analysis of the impact of various changes in the external environment, such as the promotion of community-based comprehensive care systems and reforms in the way doctors work, on the promotional activities of pharmaceutical companies, as well as the provision of information on single-company distribution and the information provision activities of MRs and MSLs. Based on these surveys and analyses, the JPMA will study and make recommendations on issues and countermeasures for the future development of ideal promotional activities of pharmaceutical companies, in cooperation with related organizations and committees within the JPMA. (Promotion Subcommittee)
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The Promotion Subcommittee will study and evaluate the impact of these system reforms on the medical field and ethical drug distribution, paying attention to discussions at the Chuikyo and other councils, and keeping abreast of trends in drug price revisions, including the mid-year revision, social security system reforms, and changes in the downstream environment. (Medical System Subcommittee)
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The Sub-Committee will grasp trends toward ensuring medical safety, expanding traceability, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining records through advanced utilization of codes for specific use, and analyze trends in unutilized facilities. In addition, the committee will also focus on users' awareness of issues in promoting utilization, environmental improvement by government agencies, etc., and organize issues from manufacturers' viewpoints and consider necessary measures. In addition, as DX study activities, the Sub-Committee will provide support for the operation of the construction of databases for pharmaceutical and medical device products, and study and respond to next-generation code information (two-dimensional codes, RFID, etc.). (Code and ICT Subcommittee)
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Negotiates and coordinates with related organizations and revises industry standard manuals to further streamline and standardize the ethical drug transaction data exchange system. The committee will also keep abreast of current efforts in distribution as a whole and information technology, and from the standpoint of an information system expert, continue research and study on the direction of the system and necessary measures for regulations. The JD-NET 8th system, which began operating in November 2024, will be promoted in cooperation with related organizations, including the Federation of Wholesalers, so that each company's system support will be completed by November 2027, when the parallel operation period between the old and new formats will end. (Information System Subcommittee)