Japan's health ministry says it will provide support to pharmaceutical companies that agree to increase production at its request as part of its efforts to address a continuing shortage of drugs due to outbreaks of influenza and COVID-19.

Health Minister Takemi Keizo told reporters on Wednesday that his ministry has compiled emergency measures.

Takemi said as one step to be taken this year, he will ask eight major makers of drugs that are in short supply to release their stockpiles and increase production. He said such a step would represent a more than 10 percent supply increase from the end of last month.

Takemi said support will be provided to drug makers that agree to secure necessary personnel and boost their production equipment.

He said the support will be included in a new economic package to be compiled by the government around the end of this month.

The minister said every possible measure will be taken so that necessary medicine can be delivered to people around the country.

The supply of drugs has been tight in Japan for more than two years.

Starting in 2021, several generic drug makers were ordered to suspend operations due to manufacturing malpractice.

The coronavirus pandemic and the spread of influenza also saw a surge in demand for drugs.

In August, the health ministry and the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Associations of Japan conducted a survey of drug makers and sellers.

It found that among 9,077 items of generic drugs, 32.3 percent of them were handled as limited shipments or their supplies were halted.

Observers point out that structural factors are behind the tight supply.

Pharmaceutical companies lacking sufficient manufacturing capabilities entered the generic drug market as the government began promoting the use of such medicines.

Some makers halted or reduced output when drug prices fell, citing a drop in profitability.