A Japanese pharmaceutical industry group says supplies of many prescription drugs were disrupted after some makers were given business suspension orders due to problematic production processes.

Last year, generic drug makers in Fukui and Toyama prefectures were slapped with business suspension orders after their problematic production methods surfaced. Similar problems were also found at makers in many parts of Japan. This development apparently has led to a shortage of pharmaceuticals at drugstores and hospitals.

At the request of the health ministry, the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Associations of Japan conducted a survey on prescription drug supply as of the end of August. It received responses from 223 firms.

The federation says that of the 15,036 items subject to the survey, 4,234 items, or 28.2 percent, were under shipment suspensions or adjustments. The rate is up 7.8 percentage points from last year.

Of all the items, generic drugs accounted for 41 percent, up more than 11.6 points from a year earlier.

The health ministry says eight companies were given business suspension or improvement orders last year for problems in production, and five firms have received such orders so far this year.

A senior federation official attributes the rise in the number of drugs in short supply to the increase of administrative punishments. He says the group wants to improve the situation as soon as possible.