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Research and Markets According to the JGPMA Generics Account for 16...

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c20465) has announced the addition of Japan Generics Market Report to their offering.



Despite its prolonged economic troubles in recent years, Japan remains the world's second largest pharmaceutical market, after the USA. It also remains one of the less penetrable. A strong and highly advanced domestic manufacturing industry, an opaque regulatory system and extensive cultural differences make the Japanese market a difficult and long term prospect. Significant cuts in government reimbursement levels in recent years have affected the market for pharmaceuticals, already depressed by the country's faltering economy, while recent court judgements have weakened the country's intellectual property laws. The overall costs of healthcare threatened to bankrupt the health insurance system in 2002, and have lead to a greater focus on price cuts as a politically easier alternative to widespread reform of the healthcare system, and these have been tentatively introduced by the MHLW, in the face of staunch opposition by drug manufacturers.



The impact of the increases in health insurance payments from workers began to be felt in 2004. This plus the gradual eradication of over-prescribing by doctors through effective legislation and the promotion of cheaper generic products all provide the government with the potential for easing the healthcare expenditure burden, in spite of the disquiet of domestic pharmaceutical firms and to the detriment of market growth.



Generics are not new in Japan, but they have a low profile and a poor reputation. Many people see them as inferior to branded products. Many old brands in Japan are still widely prescribed, despite patent expiry. According to the JGPMA, generics account for around 16% of the market by volume, and around 5.2% by value.



For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c20465



Laura Wood

Senior Manager

Research and Markets

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