Japan's Diet has passed into law a revised bill that includes the creation of a new government fund to bolster the country's capacity to develop new drugs.



Japanese-made drugs have been losing global market share, while medical personnel in Japan are facing the problem of so-called "drug loss," which refers to situations in which they cannot use drugs that can be administered overseas.



The legislation passed by the Upper House on Wednesday calls for the creation of a government fund to support start-ups aiming to develop new drugs.



It will also introduce a fast-track system to approve certain pharmaceuticals prior to some clinical testing if they are urgently needed and their efficacy can be reasonably predicted.



The legislation says the government can request that drugmakers increase production in the event of a shortage.



It also calls for strengthening a system to ensure stable provision of pharmaceuticals, such as by checking demand and supply through electronic prescriptions.



In addition, the legislation will enable consumers to buy over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores and other retailers without a pharmacist present as long as certain conditions are met, such as receiving guidance online.