Effective April 1, 2026 — Overall -0.86% cut, some items down 40%+
The 2026 drug price revision cuts official prescription drug prices by 0.86% on a medical cost basis. Some items under the market expansion reassessment face reductions of over 40%. Out-of-pocket costs for all insured patients, including foreigners, will decrease.
Drug price cuts will generally reduce out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions. Especially for chronic disease patients on long-term prescriptions, annual medical cost savings can be expected.
Japan begins pre-entry tuberculosis screening (JPETS) in Indonesia on Nov 2, 2026. From Jan 4, 2027, a TB-free certificate must be submitted with a Certificate of Eligibility or visa application.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is revising which diseases qualify as designated intractable diseases and the severity criteria for medical fee subsidies. Public comment runs to 29 October 2026 and applies to insured foreign residents too.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare opened a public comment period on 7 September 2026 for a draft cabinet order arranging related orders for the partial enforcement of the Act amending the Social Welfare Act and others. Comments are accepted via e-Gov from 20:00 on 7 September until 20:00 on 7 October 2026, and anyone may submit regardless of nationality.