PMA SEEKING FASTER REIMBURSEMENT SETTING FROM JAPANESE

Executive Summary

PMA SEEKING FASTER REIMBURSEMENT SETTING FROM JAPANESE at a Sept. 30 meeting with Japan's Chuikyo, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's advisory council for setting reimbursement levels, Abbott Labs' Regulatory/Scientific Affairs official Robert Olson told a Sept. 25 session of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) annual meeting. Noting that "reimbursement is really the whole key to getting sales in Japan," Olson said representatives of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will meet with the Chuikyo in Tokyo. "We are continually trying to push for faster reimbursement" after a product has been approved for Japanese marketing, he explained. Pharmaceutical pricing is also expected to be discussed at length. The meeting reportedly was organized after Japan's Chuikyo informed the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo that it needed advice on medical product reimbursements.