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Visit Timeline During the PMS Period

As stipulated by Japanese government regulation, sales representatives from pharmaceutical companies must visit hospitals at preset intervals for six months after a drug is launched. These visits must occur every two weeks for the first two months after a hospital purchases the drug, and monthly thereafter for a total period of six months after the launch date of the drug.

For example, Drug XYZ is launched on February 1, 2009. The PMS period will also begin on February 1, 2009. The PMS period will end for Drug XYZ six months after its release: on August 1, 2009.

Hospital 1 buys Drug XYZ on February 1, 2009. This means that they will have the maximum amount of PMS visits from the pharmaceutical company. There will be a total of eight visits that will occur approximately on the following dates:

• Biweekly dates: February 15th, March 1st, March 15th, April 1st
• Monthly dates: May 1st, June 1st, July 1st, August 1st

Hospital 2 buys Drug XYZ on April 1, 2009. As a result, there will be a total of six PMS visits that will occur approximately on the following dates:

• Biweekly dates: April 15th, May 1st, May 15th, June 1st
• Monthly dates: July 1st, August 1st

Hospital 4 buys Drug XYZ on July 15, 2009. As a result, there will be a total of one PMS visit that will occur approximately on the following date:

• Biweekly date: August 1st

NOTE:  Once six months have elapsed after the launch date, there are no more PMS calls.