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Accelerating growth through proactive business alliances and M&A

Steadily expanding business through business alliances and M&A

Since launching our first Qol pharmacy at Nihonbashi Kabutocho in 1993, the pharmacy business has steadily expanded its network of stores. In addition, we have expanded our business by developing new style stores through a business alliance with Lawson concluded in 2008.

Other than Pharmacy Business, we acquired all shares of APO PLUS STATION Co., Ltd. and entered the CSO business. We also acquired all shares of Fujinaga Pharm Co., Ltd. and entered the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Business.

Industry trendsThe changing dispensing pharmacy market

Point1From "hospital-linked pharmacies" to the age when "family pharmacies" are the mainstream

In Japan, where limiting the nation's medical expenses is a major challenge due to the aging population, the harsh environment for the dispensing pharmacy industry continues, with revisions of drug prices and medical fees. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced a policy to convert all pharmacies to "family pharmacies" by 2025, against the background of rising public awareness of the quality of social security and medical care.

Dispensing pharmacies have mainly been of the "hospital-linked" type, where many prescriptions from a specific medical institution are handled by opening a pharmacy close to a large hospital such as a university hospital. However, under the policy announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the transition to "family pharmacies" that can provide a greater degree of support for patients is progressing. In the future, it will be an era when patients actively choose dispensing pharmacies, and only pharmacies that can respond to the various needs of consumers will survive.

Point2Aggregation by major chains and entry from other industries is proceeding

In addition, dispensing pharmacies must respond to diverse medical needs as "family pharmacies," and in the future, as aggregation by major chains including Qol progresses, entry from other industries such as supermarkets and drugstores is expected to increase.