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Bangladesh: Steady progress on the hospital construction and management project
Investment agreement concluded with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
We are making steady progress with a hospital construction and management project currently underway in Bangladesh. This project is grounded in a vision of utilizing Japanese hospital-management expertise to provide high-quality medical services at reasonable cost in Bangladesh, a nation striving to improve its medical services through the private sector. While hospital construction is already underway and a grand opening set for 2020, we concluded an investment agreement with JICA in July 2018. Our partnership with the agency, which offers a wealth of experience and expertise in international aid, will ensure even better outcomes for this project.
This project will also contribute to the Japanese government’s future investment strategy (2017), which seeks to build 20 Japanese hospitals overseas by 2020. Using this project in Bangladesh as a model, the Group will introduce high-quality Japanese-style medical-facility management expertise across a broad range of emerging markets to develop overseas markets.
Treatment begins at the Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center
Facility draws considerable media attention, with reports airing on numerous television programs
The Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center, which began offering outpatient examinations on March 1, 2018, began offering treatment services on October 16. Numerous media outlets have reported on this facility and its state-of-the-art radiation therapy equipment, reflecting keen interest in the therapeutic target of inoperable cancers. As of the end of October, 145 patients had made appointments with the facility. Twelve patients completed their course of treatment within the first month after treatment was offered. Localized prostate cancer, certain types of head and neck cancer, and inoperable soft-tissue tumors are eligible for insurance coverage. Plans call for the facility to begin providing treatment covered by insurance in December 2018.
The greatest advantage of the Center’s medical care is its painless, nonsurgical approach to treatment, which imposes minimal hardships even on elderly patients. The treatment allows patients to work and shop soon after treatment. In fact, patients have been known to come to the Center wearing suits and leave for work right after treatment.
The Group seeks to contribute to society by supporting such patient-centered medical services.
Inquiry about outpatients examinations / treatment
Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center
3-1-10 Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka City, Osaka, 540-0008, Japan
TEL：+81-6-6947-3210
H P：https://www.osaka-himak.or.jp/
Adoption of PrecisionID, the materials management system of the future
Smarter management of surgical materials to add value in SPD systems
The Group’s Medical Supply (MSP) business manages and provides clinical materials and medical supplies for medical facilities. In recent years, use of off-site supply-processing distribution (SPD) systems, which manage materials efficiently off hospital premises in Group logistics centers, have become mainstream. The challenges confronting hospital management, shortfalls in medical personnel, and the need to improve working environments have compelled SPD services to achieve cost and labor savings. In response, Konishi Medical Instruments Co., Ltd., a member of the SHIP Healthcare Group, has rolled out PrecisionID, a new management system for the surgical materials field based on RFID* technologies. Based on noncontact radio communications, this system significantly improves operating efficiency and enables visual controls through digitization. By adopting information and communication technologies (ICT), the Group will continue to pursue proactive efforts to deliver the safety and efficiency improvements needed for medical services.
▼The advantages of PrecisionID
* Radio frequency identifier (RFID): General term for technology used to exchange information through short-distance radio communications with RF tags in which ID information is embedded.
▼surgical materials management system
Deploying an image building strategy in collaboration with Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty debuts at Wellhouse Senrichuo
Through a licensing agreement concluded with Sanrio Company, Ltd., the Lifecare Group is deploying an image building strategy intended to improve the image of its long-term care facilities and services and to help secure and develop human resources. As one specific measure under this strategy, Wellhouse Senrichuo, operated by Green Life, has begun using Hello Kitty as its mascot. The character appears in various spaces throughout the facility, including locations where people can take photos for uploading to social media accounts. The character also appears on the facility’s website and shuttle buses, shaping the favorable image not just of the facility, but all related services. Hello Kitty has been well received by facility users and their families and has become a leading topic of discussion at the facility. This strategy is also popular with staff and helps establish a conformable and rewarding work environment.
Using Wellhouse Senrichuo as a model, the Group plans to further improve the brand power of the Lifecare business by bringing Hello Kitty to other facilities.
New manufacturing activities launched
Advancing technological alliances and product development targeting B2C products
The Group’s manufacturing members engage in a wide range of activities targeting ordinary consumers, based on advanced technological capabilities gained in the field of healthcare. Yamada Shadowless Lamp Co., Ltd., a leader in medical lighting, is working with BALMUDA Inc., an innovator in home appliances, to apply technologies used to build surgical lamps to the joint development of a new desk light for children.
SAKAI Medical Co., Ltd., a long-established manufacturer of medical and welfare devices, released the PHYSIO SONO line of ultrasound therapy devices, and sales have been favorable. The devices make it possible to use a single probe to emit ultrasonic waves over a wide area at depths both shallow and deep in the area of the body under treatment, as well as generating low-output pulses.
Through these and other activities, the Group seeks to grow its manufacturing businesses.
Purchase of treasury stock
A purchase of approximately three billion yen in treasury stock was implemented ahead of schedule
The medium-term management plan SHIP VISION 2020, which took effect in FY2018, positions strengthening returns to shareholders among its priority goals. Specifically, it calls for securing a dividend payout ratio of 30% or more and engaging in dynamic purchasing of treasury stock. As part of these efforts, the plan called for purchase of up to 2 billion yen per year in treasury stock over three years (the period of the medium-term management plan). However, this plan has been moved forward partially with a purchase of approximately 3 billion yen in treasury stock under a May 11 resolution by the Board of Directors.
While advancing these measures to strengthen returns to shareholders, the Group will continue striving to increase corporate value toward the long-term goal of achieving 1 trillion yen in consolidated net sales.
▼Purchase specifics
(Note) Treasury stock holding status as of September 30 2018
Total number of issued shares (excluding treasury stock): 49,864,811 shares
Number of treasury stock: 969,889 shares