Article 36

①When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds that the supply of a specified pharmaceutical (meaning a specified pharmaceutical prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (17) of the Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products Including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices; the same applies hereinafter) is in shortage, or is likely to be in shortage as reasonably judged from the state of supply and demand of the specified pharmaceutical and other circumstances, and that, as a result, the provision of appropriate medical care will become difficult, which may affect the lives and health of the people, the Minister may request marketing authorization holders (meaning persons who have obtained a license for the business of marketing pharmaceuticals under Article 12, paragraph (1) of that Act; the same applies hereinafter), manufacturers (meaning persons who have obtained a license for the business of manufacturing pharmaceuticals under Article 13, paragraph (1) of that Act; the same applies hereinafter), wholesale distributors (meaning persons who have obtained a license for the wholesale distribution business under Article 34, paragraph (1) of that Act; the same applies in Article 38-4) and other related parties to provide the cooperation necessary to ensure the provision of that specified pharmaceutical or an alternative pharmaceutical (meaning an alternative pharmaceutical prescribed in Article 18-5 of that Act; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) to medical institutions that need it, such as increasing the production of, and adjusting the sale of, that specified pharmaceutical or alternative pharmaceutical.