Generic Drug Usage in Dentistry across Japan: Analysis Using a Japanese National Database.

Sachie Ono,Hitomi Kikuchi,Akira Komatsuzaki,Shiho Motoi,Mio Susuga,Asami Iguchi

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111329

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify regional disparities in generic drug usage and to examine related factors. The database used for the analysis was the 2018 national health insurance claims data published on the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The drugs that were targeted were a combination of brand-name and generic tetracycline ointments for periodontal treatment and lidocaine injection solution used for dental anesthesia. The usage of generic drugs was calculated and compared by prefecture based on the number of health insurance claims. The comparison of related factors was conducted using data from other national statistical survey. The results showed that the mean generic drug usage of tetracycline for periodontal treatment in all prefectures was 71.2 ± 8.1%, ranging from 45.8% to 85.3%. The mean generic lidocaine used for dental anesthesia was 47.6 ± 10.0%, ranging from 30.5% to 66.2%. The rank correlation coefficient between the two was 0.359 (p < 0.05), and the tendency of using both generic drugs was low in major metropolitan areas. Generic drug usage in Japan is low; thus, in order to reduce healthcare costs, generic drugs need to be actively used in dentistry.

Highlights

Generic drugs play an important role in sustaining the modern healthcare system, because escalating healthcare and drug costs are becoming a growing problem worldwide [1].Healthcare costs in Japan have been escalating since the 1960s, presumably due to the establishment of the universal health insurance system and the subsequent increase in the number of patients receiving medical care, as well as the rapid aging of the population [2].Concerned about the financial impact of rising healthcare costs, the Japanese government started introducing generic drugs from an early stage; the share of generic drugs in Japan did not increase as much as in Western countries
The usage of generic drugs has increased to about 70% in recent years as a result of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s (MHLW) policies to expand the use of generic drugs, which is expected to remain an effective tool for reducing healthcare costs in the future [4]
(2018 national health insurance claims data) published on the MHLW website, and the percentage of generic drug usage was calculated based on the number of health insurance claims (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Generic drugs play an important role in sustaining the modern healthcare system, because escalating healthcare and drug costs are becoming a growing problem worldwide [1].Healthcare costs in Japan have been escalating since the 1960s, presumably due to the establishment of the universal health insurance system and the subsequent increase in the number of patients receiving medical care, as well as the rapid aging of the population [2].Concerned about the financial impact of rising healthcare costs, the Japanese government started introducing generic drugs from an early stage; the share of generic drugs in Japan did not increase as much as in Western countries. Healthcare costs in Japan have been escalating since the 1960s, presumably due to the establishment of the universal health insurance system and the subsequent increase in the number of patients receiving medical care, as well as the rapid aging of the population [2]. In 2011, the share was only 22.8%, and Japan was advised by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to increase the share of generic drugs to 30% or more [3]. In response to this situation, to facilitate medical institutions making the transition to generic drugs, health insurance schemes introduced the “addition of insurance points”. The usage of generic drugs has increased to about 70% in recent years as a result of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s (MHLW) policies to expand the use of generic drugs, which is expected to remain an effective tool for reducing healthcare costs in the future [4]

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Conclusion