Once again, discussions on expanding reimbursement to combination therapies to treat diabetes are at a standstill. The Ministry of Health and Welfare was unimpressed with the price reduction plans submitted by relevant companies under the assumption that reimbursements are expanded.

This discussion, which had shown small progress only recently after being deliberated since 2016, has now again come to a standstill. Some have questioned whether the authorities intend to push back reimbursement of combination therapies for two more years until the patent expires for the original drugs. However, the issue cannot be ignored any longer.

The combinations being discussed for reimbursement are t