Economic
and Legal Frameworks
for Non-Prescription Medicines 2004 studied by AESGP
16.
RELATIONS WITH CONSUMER ASSOCIATIONS/PATIENT GROUPS
As mentioned in
Point 14 (Pharmacy training and attitudes), JSMI distributes
annually around 200 000 copies of a consumer brochure
"Self-Medication Guide book" with the purpose of informing
consumers on the proper use of non-prescription medicines
in user-friendly terms, with the help of numerous cartoons
and colourful illustrations.
After opening its website in September 2003, JSMI now
also offers a user-friendly electronic drug inquiry system
for the public. It contains some 4 200 OTC medicines
and related quasi-drugs indexed by name, ingredients,
indications, therapeutic categories and manufacturer.
The system is very similar to the UK's "Medicines Chest.
As part of a public relations campaign to raise consumer
awareness of self-care, JSMI convenes forums with the
major national newspapers Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun.
The 9th series of the Asahi Forum for Health was convened
at Tokyo, Chiba and Osaka in October and November 2004
cosponsored by Asahi Shimbun and the Japan Pharmaceutical
Association. Each Forum was opened with a speech by the
Executive of the Local Pharmaceutical Association, followed
by a much appreciated panel entitled "Wise and Live Actively
with Self-medication! Ask your questions on the Medicines
Chest", in which the questions raised by consumers were
explained and clarified by pharmacists.
The Second and Third Yomiuri Self-Medication Forum were
convened in May and November 2004. In the 2nd forum in
Tokyo, the "pain" phenomenon was explained by experts,
and in the 3rd forum in Osaka, the "Common cold" was
the main subject.
After the forums, the proceedings were published in both
newspapers and utilised in various feature articles to
raise public awareness.
In 2004-2005, JSMI for the first time directed its promotional
activities at schools. As one of the actions, a 72-page
book for teachers entitled "Self-Medication and Pharmaceuticals"
was sent to some 17 000 high-schools and junior high-school.
Another action was the sending to 1 000 high-schools
of a 20-minute educational video film.
JSMI, also as part of its consumer-related activities,
regularly sends one of its staff members, a pharmacist,
to various consumer groups and consumer centres throughout
the country to participate in meetings for people living
near these centres. At these meetings, in addition to
the regular lecture on the ABC of non-prescription medicines
and the importance of self-medication, the usual question-and-answer
session effectively functions as a good testing method
of how clearly the audience has understood the lecture.
Direct inquiries from the general public having picked
up the JSMI details from the back of the brochure "Self-Medication
Guide book", are also effectively and satisfactorily
handled by the JSMI staff. These enquiries come mostly
over the telephone, and occasionally also in writing.
17.
CONSUMER ATTITUDES/RESEARCH
The results of
a questionnaire survey of readers of Asahi Shimbun, one
of Japan's leading mass circulation newspapers, have
been compiled into a report. The 28th survey was conducted
in October 2004. Another consumer survey conducted by
the MHLW's Research fund was announced in the discussion
at the Special committee on the Review of the Retail
System for Pharmaceutical Products.
18.
OTHER NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Even though the full enactment
of the 2002 amendment of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law
took place only in April 2005, the Ministry of Health,
Labour and Welfare is already planning to revise the
whole framework for the retail distribution of pharmaceuticals,
especially for OTC drugs. A Special Committee for the
review of the retail system for pharmaceutical products
was formed within the Minister's Science Council in April
2004. The Committee is focusing on eight major issues
regarding the retail system and is intending to finalise
a report by June 2005 for further consideration by the
Minister. If appropriate, a new amendment to the PAL
will be presented to the Diet.
19.
ELECTRONIC INFORMATION
The Japan Self-Medication
Industry has a comprehensive website.
address: http://www.jsmi.jp/
20.
WSMI MEMBER ASSOCIATION
Japan Self-Medication
Industry (JSMI)
Kyodo Building, 3rd Floor
13-4, Nihombashi-Kodemmacho
Chuo-ku
Tokyo 103-0001 Japan
