[Current Status and Development of Drug Information Infrastructure System for the Public in Japan and Overseas]

With the progress of medical treatment, information on drugs, etc. is overflowing on the media and the Internet, and some of them are leading to uncertain information for the purpose of profit, and some of them are wrong information or inaccurate information, and the effect on the patient is regarded as a problem. In Japan, information on public pharmaceuticals for patients and consumers is provided on the Internet, but its utilization is not sufficient. In the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, it is stated that "Citizens shall endeavor to use pharmaceuticals, etc., properly and deepen their knowledge and understanding of their efficacy and safety". On the other hand, there is a variety of information available on the Internet, and simply searching does not necessarily lead to reliable information. It is necessary to provide information with a mechanism to ensure that the information is reliable so that it can lead to appropriate medical care. Overseas, medical information infrastructure systems, including highly reliable public pharmaceuticals based on evidence, have been developed. Examples include National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, MedlinePlus in the United States, and National Prescribing Service (NPS) MedicineWise in Australia. In the era of digital health, it is necessary to discuss issues and prospects for the construction and dissemination of information provision infrastructure that meets the needs of patients and consumers from the perspective of industry, government, academia, and patients.