Cooperation with local communities

A network deeply rooted in local communities

The decline in Japan’s working-age population, resulting from its super-aging society, declining birthrate and shrinking population, has significantly impacted the medical and welfare sectors. This has created issues that are difficult for traditional healthcare systems to address, and the nature and urgency required to solve such issues varies from community to community. The VITAL KSK Group—which is deeply rooted in and has grown alongside local communities, draws on its extensive networks to respond quickly and accurately to healthcare issues in these communities.

Marketing specialists support community healthcare

Sales activities using tablets

Ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of pharmaceuticals to patients, providing accurate, high-quality information and collaborating with manufacturers are just some of the core functions of pharmaceutical wholesalers. The digitalization of sales activities has proved highly effective, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly improving sales quality and strengthening collaboration, and has earned praise from pharmaceutical companies.

The Group has introduced an in-house certification system to support the development of a comprehensive community-based care system, while actively fostering face-to-face relationships with medical and nursing care professionals in local communities. Although we were forced to pause in-person multidisciplinary liaison meetings due to the pandemic, we responded to the strong desire of medical and nursing care professionals to maintain collaboration for the benefit of patients, by initiating remote multidisciplinary liaison meetings using tablets carried by our marketing specialists (pharmaceutical wholesale sales representatives or MS). This hybrid approach of combining fully remote and partly in-person meetings during the pandemic was greatly appreciated by medical and nursing care professionals.

This experience reinforced our confidence in our ability to effectively connect people, no matter what the circumstance. We aspire to be a key partner to medical and nursing care professionals in addressing healthcare issues within their communities, collaborating towards a common goal. We continuously consider how we can best serve the people who rely on our services, aiming to be an indispensable presence in community healthcare.

Digitalization of sales

Initiative Overview
Use of FINE Use of the chat tool FINE enables MS and medical representatives (MR) to quickly and accurately share information on customer needs and prescription trends.
Remote partnering Our MS carry tablets when visiting doctors and other healthcare professionals, allowing them to join meetings remotely.
Participation in online lectures Our MS participate in online lectures given by pharmaceutical companies to doctors and pharmacists, gather feedback from attendees on their impressions and intentions to adopt the pharmaceuticals discussed, and relay this information to our MR.

Collaboration with local governments, etc.

The VITAL KSK Group has survived major disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and the 2018 Osaka Earthquake. Based on these experiences, we have concluded agreements with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) supply control headquarters and local governments for the supply of pharmaceuticals and other items in the event of a disaster. By developing awareness of what can be done in each community, and how to act during normal times, employees develop a sense of duty to fulfill our responsibilities as a key part of social infrastructure, which in turn leads to the development of a better corporate culture.

The Group also cooperates with local governments to raise awareness of diseases and prevent diseases among community residents. Specifically, activities include watching over senior citizens and children, dementia “Caravan Mate” activities, locomotive syndrome awareness activities, cancer screening awareness activities, IBD disease awareness activities, as well as lectures to deepen understanding of the cervical cancer prevention vaccine, for which catch-up vaccinations will end in FY2024. We will continue to strengthen our relationships with local governments and contribute to increasing the healthy life expectancy of residents.

A cooperation agreement on initiatives for citizens’ health has been reached with Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture.

Regional support activities

The Group promotes diversity and inclusion in local communities, with the aim of peaceful coexistence and co-prosperity with local communities, and engages in social contribution activities such as environmental beautification and blood donation.

VITAL-NET, INC. supports the social independence of people with disabilities by creating employment opportunities, such as ordering confectioneries and conducting in-house sales using employment facilities for people with disabilities. We also conduct fundraising activities for Children's Village Tohoku, a facility that accepts children who are unable to spend time with their parents.

KSK Co., Ltd. regularly participates in training for watching over and speaking to senior citizens, aiming to build a community-based comprehensive care system. After training, participants share their observations and reflections with all employees, so that they can make use of what they have learned when they actually encounter situations where senior citizens encounter problems.

Main initiatives

Unmanned in-house sales of cookies made at employment facilities for people with disabilities
Training to watch over and speak to senior citizens
Cooperation with field trips for local elementary schools
Contributed to blood donations.
Cleaning at Kamikura Shrine World Heritage Site (Wakayama Prefecture)