Japan to cut medical service, drug prices by 1.19%

December 15, 2017

TOKYO- The Japanese government is poised to cut the prices of medical services and drugs covered by the public health insurance system by 1.19 percent in the fiscal 2018 cost revision, Jiji Press has learned.

The drop will be led by a 1.74 percent cut in drug prices. Meanwhile, medical treatment fees mainly designed to cover personnel costs will rise 0.55 percent.

Japan lowered the combined prices in the previous cost revision in fiscal 2016. The expected reduction would mark the second straight decline.

Japan will also revise fees for elderly nursing care services under a different public insurance system in fiscal 2018, which starts next April. This time, the fees are seen rising 0.53-0.54 percent, the first increase since fiscal 2012 excluding special adjustments. Jiji Press