The House of Representatives approved on Tuesday health insurance system reform bills featuring the establishment of a mechanism to increase out-of-pocket expenses for patients prescribed drugs with ingredients and effects similar to those of over-the-counter drugs.
The bills were passed by a majority vote at a plenary meeting of the lower chamber of parliament, with support from the ruling the Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party as well as opposition parties including the Centrist Reform Alliance and the Democratic Party for the People.
They will then be discussed by the House of Councilors, the upper chamber, and are likely to be enacted during the current parliamentary session.
