Various measures have been taken to minimize risk for individual drug products in the past. It is noteworthy that these measures are now documented and made public as a　“risk minimization plan” with the implementation of the scheme of Risk Management Plan （RMP). Risk minimization activities are conducted with the aim of securing and enhancing patients' safety, and at the same time, it places additional burdens on patients, healthcare practitioners and manufacturers/distributors. In this context, it should be assessed whether the original purpose is achieved. It is the key　for RMP to revise the plan effectively based on the assessment result. Measures to evaluate the effectiveness of risk minimization activities include analysis using medical information databases, questionnaire survey/interview to healthcare practitioner and patients. We may need to conduct prospective/retrospective surveys for some cases. There is no single method to be universally applied to different situations and we have no other way than putting our heads together and moving into action.

One year and a half has passed since the implementation of the guideline on drug risk management plan (RMP). Japanese RMP system practically began to work. While a post-marketing surveillance study, which has played the central role in pharmacovigilance activities in Japan, is positioned as a measure to collect information to be used in the application document for re-examination, the environment surrounding pharmacovigilance has dramatically changed, e.g. increased number of spontaneous reports, improved medical information database and expansion of its availability, compared to the situation when the reexamination scheme was incorporated into law 35 years ago. Now we need to examine diversified approaches to improve the traditional method and mindset taking advantage of the advances in information technology. In order that RMP system be implemented effectively as well as soundly, it is important to implement the PDCA (plan-do-check-act) cycle in a timely manner. Also we need to assess the overall balance between the resources for post-marketing risk management activities and the performance obtained by them from the viewpoint of ensuring patients' safety.

Various measures have been taken to minimize risk for individual drug products in the past. It is noteworthy that these measures are now documented and made public as a　“risk minimization plan” with the implementation of the scheme of Risk Management Plan （RMP). Risk minimization activities are conducted with the aim of securing and enhancing patients' safety, and at the same time, it places additional burdens on patients, healthcare practitioners and manufacturers/distributors. In this context, it should be assessed whether the original purpose is achieved. It is the key　for RMP to revise the plan effectively based on the assessment result. Measures to evaluate the effectiveness of risk minimization activities include analysis using medical information databases, questionnaire survey/interview to healthcare practitioner and patients. We may need to conduct prospective/retrospective surveys for some cases. There is no single method to be universally applied to different situations and we have no other way than putting our heads together and moving into action.