The overdose of drugs in Japan

Article Abstract:

The Japanese spend the greatest amount of money on prescription drugs. Many of these drugs are sold only in Japan, and have questionable effectiveness and serious side effects. These problems are related to deficits in Japan's drug approval process and system for dispensing approved drugs. In most countries, such as the United States, in order for a drug to be approved for general use, it must pass through three phases of clinical testing or trials. Phase 1 is to check the drug's safety in humans; phase 2 is to assess its response rate and severity of side effects in patients for whom the drug is intended; and phase 3 is to determine whether the drug is better than existing treatments. In Japan, a drug can be prescribed after it has passed only the first two phases. Japanese patients are often given drugs under trial without their informed consent. Japanese doctors are permitted to own pharmacies, and are often given tremendous incentives by pharmaceutical companies to prescribe drugs. The widespread use of blood products has led to a high incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); Japan has 1,000 carriers of AIDS and more than 90 percent are hemophiliacs. The outcomes of studies on the effectiveness of drugs such as the anticancer agents are influenced to a great extent by the pharmaceutical companies that produce the drugs. Some suggestions are made for improving the evaluation of data from clinical trials, the role of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in the drug evaluation process, and the dispensing of drugs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Standards, Evaluation, Drugs, Clinical trials, Drug utilization, Drug monitoring, Pharmaceutical research, Pharmaceutical policy, Drug dispensing

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Can Japan survive a new government?

Article Abstract:

The recent parliamentary elections in Japan are unlikely to affect the government's relation with business. The strength of Japanese business is not as closely tied to government policy as it is in the US, and what little connection there is between policy and industry is unlikely to change. While government entities such as the Ministry of International Trade and Industry have encouraged research by Japanese industries, it is the companies themselves that carry the economic growth of the nation.

Political aspects, Science and state, Science policy

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Japan and its women

Article Abstract:

Issues are presented concerning the difficulties faced by Japanese women wishing to pursue careers as scientists. The slow acknowledgement of the under-representation of women in science is discussed.

Women scientists

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