Task Force to Secure Supplies of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and Medical Supplies that are vulnerable due to the Situation in the Middle East

1. Purpose of the Task Force

METI and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have established the Task Force to secure supplies of medical products including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and medical supplies, which have been affected by the current situation in the Middle East. The Task Force aims to implement comprehensive approaches including the analysis of challenges in ensuring stable supplies of medical products and the discussion of possible responses to the situation. The first meeting will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31.

2. Structure of the Task Force

The structure of the Task Force is as follows. As a general rule, the meetings will take place behind closed doors to encourage frank discussion.

Chairs	Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare
	Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Acting Chairs	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare	Vice-Minister for Health and Chief Medical and Global Health Officer
	Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry	Director-General for Evidence-based Policymaking
Vice Chairs	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare	Senior Assistant Minister for Health Security and Technology
		Assistant Minister for Pharmaceutical Industry Promotion and Healthcare DX
	Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry	Director-General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau
		Director-General for Commerce and Service Industry Policy
		Director-General, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
Members	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare	Director, Health Science Division, Minister’s Secretariat
		Director, Regional Medical Care Planning Division, Health Policy Bureau
		Director, Policy Planning Division for Pharmaceutical Industry Promotion and Medical Information Management, Health Policy Bureau
		Counselor (integrated policy integration charge)
	Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry	Director, Budget and Accounts Division, Minister's Secretariat
		Director, Material Industries Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau
		Director, Medical and Assistive Device Industries Office, Healthcare Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau
		Director, Policy Planning Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Related Link（in Japanese）

• News release from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare

Division in Charge

Medical and Assistive Device Industries Office, Healthcare Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau