Overview
- The reform package, which entered Lower House debate Thursday, centers on adding patient charges for prescriptions judged similar to over-the-counter medicines.
- The government says the surcharge would be 25% of the drug cost starting next March and would cover common drugs such as Loxonin pain relievers and Allegra for allergies.
- Opposition parties warn higher out-of-pocket costs could discourage people from seeking care, especially for routine symptoms that are often treated early.
- Sports Agency chief Junichi Kawai said Japan lost a men’s bobsleigh Olympic berth because of federation paperwork errors and he pledged work with the JOC and the sport body to prevent a repeat after receiving a petition calling for an outside investigation.
- Fast Retailing, the owner of Uniqlo, raised its August 2026 net profit forecast to ¥480 billion, citing strong sales in Japan and growth overseas while noting that a prolonged conflict could push up costs through higher oil prices.