http://www.drug.com/pharmacy.html (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)
Japanese Pharmacies
Traditionally, Japanese pharmacists did not fill prescriptions. Physicians did most of dispensing until recent years.
As of now over 15% of all medications are dispensed through pharmacy. The rest is handed out to the patient by physicians.
Iyaku Bungyo
The movement toward "pharmacy dispensing" is called Iyaku-Bungyo (pronounced E-Yak-Bun-Gyo).
Chouzai-Yakkyoku
"Chouzai-Yakkyoku" (prescription oriented pharmacies) dispense much of the 15% mentioned above. Some of these establishment
are economically tied with physicians. They are called "Daini-Yakkyoku" and are considered illegal.
Some community pharmacies refuse to fill prescriptions, presumablly, because they do not have drugs, or because they do not know how to. It is in violation of the new Ministry Guideline, however.
- Mizuno Pharmacies HOME