Kobayashi Pharmaceutical will pay the medical bills of people who became ill after taking its troubled beni k¨­ji fermented red rice supplements.

There have been hundreds of reports of illness, as well as some deaths, among those who took the Osaka-based drugmaker¡¯s supplements, prompting a government investigation. On Friday, the company¡¯s board of directors set up a third-party panel consisting of three legal experts to probe the company¡¯s handling of the issue.

In a Thursday release, the company said it will reimburse costs incurred for medical treatment and transportation for those who needed medical attention after taking the firm¡¯s beni k¨­ji supplements purchased after July 2023. Patients will need to provide a doctor¡¯s note in order to receive compensation.