JAPAN Law and Practice Contributed by: Kenji Utsumi and Kensuke Suzuki, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
8.5 Regulation of Prescriptions and Dispensing by Pharmacies
Historically, Japanese hospitals prescribed and dis- pensed pharmaceuticals themselves. However, in an effort to address excessive pharmaceutical-related spending, the MHLW began incentivising hospitals to separate the prescription and dispensing of phar- maceuticals functions so that pharmaceuticals are not prescribed unnecessarily. Furthermore, under the Japanese health insurance regulations, Japanese hospitals are prohibited from instructing patients to purchase prescription drugs at a specific pharmacy.
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