WASHINGTON, D.C. -- AdvaMed praised the Bush Administration for securing commitments from Japan to improve its reimbursement and regulatory practices for medical technologies.

These measures were outlined in a joint report on deregulation presented to President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on June 6, 2007. The goal of the measures is to promote smoother introduction of new technologies and expanded access for U.S. companies to the Japanese market.

"These measures will provide greater transparency, reduce regulatory delays and improve Japanese patients' access to the latest life-saving and life-enhancing medical technologies," said AdvaMed President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl. "We are pleased that the two governments recognize the vital contributions that advanced medical technologies can make to Japan's health care challenges."
Japanese patients do not have access to the same innovative medical technologies as patients throughout the rest of the world. Bureaucratic delays and burdensome regulations have been driving up costs without improving health care quality. The ITC, an independent U.S. Government agency, conducted an extensive investigation of the regulatory environment in Japan which found that the process of gaining access to Japan's medical technology market is far slower and more costly than that of the United States or the European Union. At the same time that costs have been increasing, Japan has been cutting reimbursement for innovative medical technologies through a system that focuses on products made mainly by non-Japanese companies.

Among the measures announced by the two governments, Japan has agreed to consult with industry before making any changes in its rules for setting medical device reimbursement prices. Japan also committed to increase its efforts to speed the introduction of medical technology products through its approval system so that Japanese patients can benefit from these advanced treatments as quickly as possible.

More Industry Headlines