Present and future of the Japanese pharmacopoeia in the clinical setting and pharmacy education

Abstract

The Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) has played a major role in ensuring the quality of drugs used in Japan as the ultimate source of information on pharmaceuticals. Physicians and pharmacists can reliably use drugs in the clinical setting because they trust the quality when medical treatment progresses smoothly. When there is a problem or challenge, they can refer to the JP. For pharmacists, both the quality of the drug and information on its efficacy and safety are indispensable. Twelve years have passed since the introduction of a 6-year course in pharmacy education, but the weight placed upon the JP has not increased in the educational curriculum. A specific behavioral objective of describing the significance and structure of the JP is included in the revised model core curriculum for pharmacy education. However, fewer than 60％ of pharmacy schools have courses specifically focusing on the JP. Professors of physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutics, and pharmacognosy often teach the relevant sections of the JP in their lectures. The foundations of the Japanese manufacturing industry have been questioned because data falsification and inspection fraud have been disclosed in numerous fields. Therefore, ethical education for those who use the JP is a prerequisite for ensuring the reliability of pharmaceuticals.