Feasibility of Conducting Event Monitoring in Japan Similar to Prescription-Event Monitoring in England : A Report on a Health Sciences Research to Ministry of Health and Welfare Japan in 1997 / 薬剤疫学

ABSTRACT

Background: With a support from Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW) Japan, we embarked on a pilot study for Prescription-Event Monitoring (PEM) adapted to Japanese environment. <BR>Methods: A pilot study was conducted according to the report on this subject to MHW in 1996. <BR>Results and Conclusion: PEM using monthly claims called as “Rezept” issued by individual hospitals and clinics is judged to be difficult unless the use of the claims for epidemiological studies is legally separated from the examination process of the medical cost claimed. PEM using the prescriptions dispensed by individual pharmacies is easier to conduct. Some progress has been attained by employing the latter scheme in the pilot study where approximately 1300 patients with a new antidiabetic agent, troglitazone, are compared with 1300 patients who have recently started one of “old” antidiabetics.