TOKYO: The Japanese government is planning to cut spending for public medical expenses by 100 billion yen in the fiscal year starting in April 2020, the Nikkei newspaper reported Sunday, without saying where it got the information.
The health and finance ministries are considering slashing the publicly set prices of drugs to save the nation roughly 1% of its medical spending, the newspaper said.
Separately, the Sankei newspaper reported Sunday that the government may end public insurance coverage for some drugs such as cold medicine because similar products are available over the counter.
The move is aimed at curbing public medical spending.