EDITORIAL: Policy measures needed to address generic drug shortages | The Asahi Shimbun: latest news, current affairs and analysis from Japan

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Japan has been plagued by a prolonged shortage of common medications such as cough suppressants, expectorants and antimicrobial agents. According to a survey by a pharmaceutical industry organization, since September, shipments of about 20 percent of all drugs have been either suspended or limited in quantity. Seventy percent of them are generic drugs, which are …

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FILE: Man bikes across Japan hoping to change his views on mental health

FILE: Man bikes across Japan hoping to change his views on mental health

A young Japanese man who struggled for years with his mental health turns tirelessly to his suffering companions. He even went on a cross-country bicycle tour to speak about his experiences, trying to dispel the negative stigma surrounding mental illness. Having suffered from mental health issues from a young age, 27-year-old Takumi Hara thought he …

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