According to Kyodo News, the Central Social Insurance Medical Council of Japan (an advisory body to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare) approved on March 8 that Shionogi & Co., Ltd.'s COVID-19 oral drug "Xocova" would be covered by insurance. The official price for the treatment is about 51,850 yen (approximately 2,623 RMB) per course. As the cost is currently subsidized by public funds, patients will continue to receive it for free in the short term. Once public funding ends, patients paying 30% of the cost at the point of service will pay over 15,000 yen.
Similarly, Pfizer's oral drug "Paxlovid" has also been approved for insurance coverage. The daily cost of the drug is approximately 19,800 yen.
The two oral drugs were previously purchased by the government and distributed to medical institutions, etc. Starting from the 15th, they will be covered by insurance and, after that, will be circulated in the market like regular medicines.