The Abe administration is seeking to establish a new system for the nation's medical research in which the government takes the lead in pushing large-scale projects in the development of new drugs and medical technology. While the administration will submit a bill to the current Diet session so that the planned organization will start operation in fiscal 2015, the plan needs to be carefully examined through deliberations in the legislature to ensure that it will serve its intended purpose.
The plan is part of the administration's call for improving competitiveness in the medical sector as a new growth industry for Japan. Behind the initiative is a concern that basic research at universities and other institutions is not well connected to product development by medical firms, and that government support for medical research has been inefficient due to lack of communication and coordination among the various ministries involved.
Under the plan, part of the government budget for medical research funding currently allocated separately to the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry; the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry; and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry will be combined under a new research promotion headquarters to be led by a Cabinet member. An independent administrative body also will be established under the auspices of the headquarters to engage in the distribution of public funds among universities and research institutions, improve the research environment and introduce research results to medical businesses.