Society :

Improving Access to Healthcare

Action Policies for Improving Access to Healthcare

Even today as we see remarkable developments in the medical field, there are many diseases against which no effective treatment exists. Also, in low- and lower middle-income countries, there are many people who have difficulty receiving necessary medical care due to various reasons such as inadequate medical infrastructure and poverty.
Under the corporate philosophy “Dedicated to the Fight against Disease and Pain,” we aim to improve access to healthcare by pursuing these goals: Research and development of innovative new drugs and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
In "Research and Development of Innovative New Drugs," we are actively engaged in the research and development of drugs for NCDs (noncommunicable diseases), including cancer, where medical needs have yet to be met, as well as for rare diseases. In addition, we are also strengthening our efforts so that we can provide new drugs to patients around the world, including Europe, the United States and Asia.
In the area of "strengthening healthcare infrastructure," we are working on medium- to long-term initiatives to train medical personnel and improve the medical environment in low- and middle-income countries through partnerships with NPOs, public institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and other organizations.

Promotion Management System

We set the improvement of access to healthcare as one of the themes included in the materiality "Enhancement of Social Trust" and the Board of Directors and the Management Meeting are managing targets and progress (Please click here for detail). In addition, in terms of implementation, the Sustainability Promotion Committee, consisting of members of each division, mainly promotes implementation under management by the Sustainability Strategy Meeting.

ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., system

Research and Development of Innovative New Drugs

Based on our corporate philosophy of "Dedicated to the Fight against Disease and Pain," we have created a series of innovative new drugs that had been thought to be impossible in order to realize our passion to help people who are suffering from disease. We will take on the challenge of research and development of innovative drugs in collaboration with the world’s top scientists, contribute to people’s health by providing safe, secure and appropriate drugs, and take on the challenge of realizing a sustainable society through responsible business activities.
For more details about our business activities, please click here.

Clinical Development for Rare and Pediatric Diseases

We believe that our efforts in the clinical development of pharmaceuticals for rare and pediatric diseases are critical to improving access to healthcare, and we are working as follows:

Efforts made against rare diseases(The situation in Japan As of April 1, 2025)
Product name Therapeutic indication* Date designated as an orphan drug Development Status
OPDIVO intravenous infusion Malignant melanoma June 17, 2013 Approved
Hodgkin lymphoma March 16, 2016 Approved
Malignant pleural mesothelioma December 1, 2017 Approved
Cancer of unknown primary March 11, 2021 Approved
Malignant mesothelioma (excluding malignant pleural mesothelioma) February 22, 2023 Approved
Unresectable advanced or recurrent epithelial skin malignancies May 23, 2023 Approved
Unresectable advanced or recurrent microsatellite instability-high (MSI-High) colorectal cancer September 20, 2024 Filed
Demser Capsules Improvement of catecholamine excess and various symptoms in pheochromocytoma May 25, 2015 Approved
Kyprolis for intravenous infusion Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma August 20, 2015 Approved
Onoact for intravenous infusion Life-threatening refractory and emergent cardiac arrhythmias: ventricular fibrillation and hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia August 24, 2016 Approved
Mektovi Tablets NRAS or BRAFV600 mutation-positive malignant melanoma December 4, 2013 Approved
Braftovi Capsules BRAFV600 mutation-positive malignant melanoma December 4, 2013 Approved
Unresectable, advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer with BRAF-mutation June 19, 2024 Filed
Velexbru Tablets Primary central nervous system lymphoma August 20, 2019 Approved
Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma November 19, 2019 Approved
  • Anticipated indications or diseases on the designation
Efforts to obtain approval for pediatric use(The situation in Japan As of April 1, 2025)
Product name Therapeutic indication Status
Onon Dry Syrup Bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis Approved
Emend Capsules Digestive symptoms (nausea, vomiting) resulting from the administration of antineoplastic agents (cisplatin, etc.) (including the delayed phase) Approved
Proemend for intravenous injection Digestive symptoms (nausea, vomiting) resulting from the administration of antineoplastic agents (cisplatin, etc.) (including the delayed phase) Approved
Orencia for intravenous infusion Active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis Approved
Demser Capsules Improvement of status of catecholamine excess secretion in patients with pheochromocytoma Approved
OPDIVO intravenous infusion Relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma Approved
Rhabdoid tumor Phase 2
Onoact for intravenous infusion Tachyarrhythmia (supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter) in patients with low cardiac function Approved

Our Policies on Intellectual Property Rights and on Patents in Countries with Limited Access to Healthcare

We strive to continually develop innovative drugs through appropriate protection and use of various types of intellectual property generated during the course of drug development, while at the same time respecting intellectual property rights owned by third parties. In some countries, people have difficulty access to healthcare due to economic reasons. To deliver our innovative drugs to more patients worldwide, we will neither apply for nor enforce patent rights in Least Developed Countries defined by the United Nations*1 and Low Income Countries defined by the World Bank*2. We also will not file patent applications or enforce rights in Lower Middle Income Countries defined by the World Bank*3 with the exception of some countries.
In addition, we continue to examine applicability of our patented compounds to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and other diseases in the aforementioned countries (use of the existing patent pool, the provision of voluntary licenses to generics manufacturers, etc.).
In the situation of a public health national emergency, such as a pandemic, etc., we understand that the compulsory right will be granted as one of the options. We also understand that the compulsory right will be granted in accordance with Article 31-2 of the TRIPS Agreement (the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) in order to export pharmaceuticals to countries with insufficient or no capacity to manufacture pharmaceuticals. We will consider licensing patents flexibly and appropriately on a case-by-case basis. In order to improve access to pharmaceuticals, granting the compulsory right alone cannot resolve the fundamental problems. We consider that comprehensive activities are necessary, including activities that include the correction of economic discrepancies, training of healthcare professionals, and development of the healthcare system, healthcare infrastructure, and drug supply system.

Patient Support Program

We aim to create innovative pharmaceuticals and provide a variety of support so that patients can receive the treatment they need. The purpose of the Patient Support Program is to support patients and their families by providing information on treatment and financial support. Our U.S. subsidiary, Deciphera, leverages Deciphera Access Point™ to understand the unique situation of each patient in the U.S. and provides them with a dedicated case manager who helps resolve a wide range of issues covering everything from understanding insurance to financial issues and starting and continuing treatment.

ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., system

Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure
– Capacity Building –

There are still countries and regions in the world where the healthcare infrastructure is immature and many people who cannot access necessary healthcare are left behind. We are working to support NPOs to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in these regions (local capacity building: Building a healthcare infrastructure where healthcare can be delivered continuously by local capabilities).

Under the "ONO SWITCH Project" that was implemented from FY2018 to FY2021, we have provided support in Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan for the training of local healthcare personnel, educating local citizens on diseases, and assisting with scarce healthcare facilities and supplies (for more details, see "ONO SWITCH Project (FY2018 to FY2022)" on this page below). We have achieved steady results in strengthening healthcare infrastructure through the activities of the NPOs that we supported under this project.
In consideration of the lessons learned from this project, we started a new healthcare access improvement project, the "ONO Bridge Project," in FY2022.

With the new project, and not only through financial support necessary for NPO measures, we will also increase the social recognition of issues related to access to healthcare, have our employees participate in volunteer activities, take measures for collaboration using our know-how, etc. At the same time, we will increase the input of non-financial capital into the project and thereby maximize our social impact and strengthen our human resources, etc. For example, we will increase employee understanding, empathy, and desire to take on the challenge of resolving issues related to healthcare access and we aim to disseminate the mission statement and to increase engagement in the association thereto. In addition, we consider this project as to be an opportunity to broaden our understanding of patients and healthcare issues around the world and thereby aim to support our growth strategy.

[figure] ONO Bridge Project (Bridging the healthcare access gaps)
Our thoughts on the project name:
To serve as a bridge between healthcare and patients.As the hope of patients for the future,we aim to create a society where people who need healthcare and people who want to deliver healthcare are connected and overcome the healthcare access gap.

In this project, we works with NPOs to implement the following two programs:Through the programs, we not only contribute to the financial support necessary for NPO measures but we will also increase the social recognition of issues related to healthcare access and take measures for collaboration using our know-how, among other things.

Cambodia: Program to Improve Access to Advanced Pediatric Medical care

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Partner
Specified Nonprofit corporation Japan Heart
(hereinafter referred to as "JH")
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In response to the shortage of medical personnel and knowledge in Cambodia and issues related to accessing medical care in rural areas (economic strength, infrastructure, and local customs), we work with Japan Heart to improve access to medical care for local residents, including pediatric cancer patients, by training medical professionals, educating patients, and providing support to medical facilities through programs.

Please see below for details of our activities
Program to Improve Access to Advanced Pediatric Medical care in Cambodia (Overview and Progress)
Corresponding SDGs
3.4
By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
3.8
Achieve universal health coverage (UHC), including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
3.c
Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States
Issues related to Access to Healthcare in Cambodia and Activities of Japan Heart
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Name of the hospital
Japan Heart Children's Medical Center (JHCMC)
Year constructed
2016: JHCMC built
2018: JHCMC Expansion (increase in pediatric oncology beds)
Number of staffs
131 (as of March., 2024)
Number of beds
94 beds (Adult: 39 beds/ Pediatric: 55 beds)
Diagnosis and treatment department
Internal medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Pediatric Surgery
Performance
Provide medical care: Adult 20132, Pediatric 3,859
Hospitalization: Adult 947, Pediatric 268
Surgery: Adult 1,022, Pediatric 275

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that 80% of patients with pediatric cancer survive in high-income countries, while the percentage of patients who achieve remission in low- and middle-income countries is below 30%*.

Survival rate of pediatric cancer

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Many pediatric patients who cannot access advanced medical care have also been left behind in Cambodia.
A major cause is the shortage of medical institutions and healthcare professions that can provide advanced medical care. In particular, due to the impact of history, including the slaughter and civil war that occurred in the past in Cambodia, skilled medical care professionals who train the next-generation of medical care professionals are in short supply and issues related to healthcare access may remain in the future. In addition, the lack of economic power of people in the community, hospital visitation habits, and trust in healthcare are barriers to accessing healthcare.

Japan Heart opened the Japan Heart Children's Medical Center independently in the Ponnel District, Kandal Province, Cambodia, which provides advanced medical care for free to patients with pediatric cancer and other diseases. In addition, Japan Heart also trains local healthcare professionals through its activities. The Medical Center also engages in building the local healthcare system in the Ponnel District and provides free mobile medical services in the district.

  • In Japan there were 2.3 physicians per 1,000 people as of 2014, while in Cambodia, there were only 0.2 physicians per 1,000 people as of 2014. The number of general beds per 1,000 people is 13.1 beds in Japan, while it is only 0.9 beds in Cambodia in 2016*.
  • For example, at the Japan Heart Children's Medical Center, the medical fees for one patient with pediatric cancer are approximately eight hundred thousand to one million yen. The average annual income in Cambodia is 1,625 US dollars (approximately two hundred and twenty thousand yen; 2021, World Bank survey). Therefore, the standard treatment for pediatric cancer cannot be covered by an average household in Cambodia*.
  • There are only a few medical institutions that have a department specialized in pediatric oncology in Cambodia. In particular, the number of medical institutions that can provide expert treatment of pediatric solid tumors is very limited. Therefore, patients with pediatric solid tumors come to the Japan Heart Children's Medical Center from all over Cambodia.
Programs that ONO supports
[Target area]

Target area: Ponnel District, Kandal Province and surrounding rural areas in Cambodia

[Support period]

From 2022 to 2027

[Issues, measures, targets]
1. Training skilled healthcare professionals
Issues
  • In order for local healthcare professionals of Japan Heart Children's Medical Center to provide medical treatment without the support of Japanese staff and to train the next generation of healthcare professionals, it is necessary for them to accumulate more advanced and wider knowledge and experience. The Medical Center is one of the few facilities in Cambodia where healthcare professionals can experience advanced healthcare; however, clinical experience is limited at the Medical Center alone. In addition, the advanced healthcare that is provided at medical facilities and the environment in advanced countries cannot be acquired at the Medical Center.
  • Local nurses of the Medical Center have insufficient knowledge and skills to provide advanced nursing care (e.g., caring for patients who are under postoperative ventilator management, etc.).
  • The Medical Center has no local radiology technicians. Therefore, Japanese technicians are engaging in treatment, meaning that local technicians are not trained.
Measures
  • Training physicians:
    1. Provide training at a medical institution in Japan (National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center) in order to learn advanced medical care for pediatric patients (5 months).
    2. Expand the scope of clinical experience by providing training at other medical institutions in Cambodia.
    3. Create opportunities to learn the latest knowledge, such as participation in international academic conference of cancer, etc.
  • Training nurses:
    1. Provide clinical training for advanced healthcare mainly for postoperative management through training at other medical facilities in Cambodia.
    2. Create opportunities to learn the latest knowledge by participating in internal academic conference of cancer, etc.
  • Employing local radiology technicians: Employ local radiology technicians.
Targets
  • Training physicians:
    1. Training in Japan: 1 person
    2. Training at other medical facilities in Cambodia: 2 persons
    3. Participation in international academic conference of cancer: 5 persons
  • Training nurses:
    1. Training at other medical facilities in Cambodia: 5 persons
    2. Participation in international academic conference of cancer: 5 persons
  • Employing radiology technicians: 1 person
2. Improvement of access to healthcare in rural areas
Issues
  • There are public healthcare facilities, such as health centers, in rural areas in Ponnel District, Kandal Province and surrounding areas. However, the healthcare that can be provided is limited and patients do not regularly use the public healthcare facilities. In addition, there is a hospital with medical devices on site located at more than an hour’s drive away. Local people are not accustomed to visiting the hospital regularly and they do not fully trust medical care.
Measures
  • Provide free on-site medical care at core public medical facilities in rural areas away from the Japan Heart Children's Medical Center. Staff (doctors, nurses, etc.) of the Japan Heart Children’s Medical Center will be dispatched for several days to provide medical care and perform surgery, etc. Raise awareness of diseases among patients through medical treatment and surgery, and train healthcare professionals and build trust in medical care by providing medical care in cooperation with local staff.
Targets
  • Free On-Site Medical Care: 8 times per year; Local Medical Care and Number of Surgical Procedures: 50 (from April 2024 until the end of the program)
    • Until March 2024, the goal was to provide 1 free mobile medical service per month in rural areas, but as of April 2024, the goal has been revised as shown above because some activities have been changed to free on-site medical treatment, including surgeries
3. Enhancement of advanced medical devices
Issues
  • Japan Heart Children's Medical Center is one of few facilities that can provide advanced healthcare to pediatric patients in Cambodia; however, their medical devices are insufficient when compared with advanced countries.
  • There are issues where internal diseases (such as intussusception) cannot be diagnosed due to the absence of an X-ray fluoroscope or where there may be a greater burden on patients since a surgery requiring an X-ray fluoroscopy room is substituted with X-ray imaging machines.
Measures
  • Introduce an X-ray fluoroscope.
Targets
  • Purchase an X-ray fluoroscope and prepare an X-ray fluoroscopy room.
[Progress]
Initiatives Target
(FY2022-2026)
FY2022
(~Mar 2023)
FY2023
(Apr 2023 – Mar 2024)
FY2024
(Apr 2024 – Mar 2025)
Status
Training skilled healthcare professionals
  1. Training physicians
  1. Training in Japan: 1 person
  1. One physician received five months of clinical training at a Japanese medical institution.
Completed
  1. Training at other medical institutions in Cambodia: 2 persons
  1. One physician underwent 3 months of clinical training in anesthesia at a medical institution in Cambodia
  1. Two physicians conducted training at a medical institution in Cambodia
Completed
  1. Participating in international academic conference of cancer: 5 persons
  1. One physician attended Singapore academic conference.
  1. Two physicians attended Singapore academic conference.
  1. Two physicians attended in an international pediatric cancer conference held in Japan.
Completed
  1. Training nurses
  1. Training at other medical institutions in Cambodia: 5 persons
  1. Participating in international academic conference of cancer: 5 persons
  1. Two nurses attended Singapore academic conference.
  1. One nurse attended Singapore academic conference.
on schedule
  1. Employing radiology technicians: 1person
  1. Started recruiting activities
  1. Ongoing recruitment activities
  1. Ongoing recruitment activities
Inprovement of access to healthcare in rural areas
  1. Free mobile medical service
    1. Once a month (~ Mar 2024)
  1. Held free mobile medical service three times, providing 143 people with free medical exams.
  1. Held free mobile medical service seven times, providing 522 people with free medical exams.
Completed
  1. Free on-site medical care and surgeries
    1. Conducted 8 times per year, with 50 surgeries performed (from April 2024 until the end of the program)
  1. Conducted a total of 5 times to 2 rural areas (Kroch Chhmar and Chamkarleu), treated 317 patients and performed 85 surgeries
on schedule
Enhancement of advanced medical devices
  1. Added exam room for X-ray fluoroscopy
  1. Completed construction of an operating room in order to add X-ray fluoroscopy equipment.
  1. The X-ray fluoroscopy equipment (C-arm) has been installed, protective clothing and other preparations for operation have been made, and operation of the equipment started in January 2024.
  1. In operation and currently being used by patients
Completed
[Our Annual Activities]
Activities in FY2024
1. Training skilled healthcare professionals
  • Training physicians and nurses:
    1. Domestic training for physicians:
      1. 2 Cambodian physicians received clinical training at a medical institution in Cambodia (Angkor Hospital for Children). The clinical training included a training program on pediatric emergency care, which led to the acquisition of knowledge and skills to deal with pediatric-specific situations.
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    2. Participation in international academic conference of cancer by physicians and nurses:
      1. 2 local physicians from Japan Heart participated in the Congress of Asia continental branch of International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP Asia), which was held in Yokohama, Japan. It was a great opportunity to learn and be inspired through the cases presented at SIOP Asia and exchanges with many medical professionals.
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  • Employing radiology technicians: Regarding the recruitment of local technicians, we are mainly using SNS to conduct our recruitment activities, which is mainstream in Cambodia, and reach out to educational institutions and other organizations. In Cambodia, there are only a limited number of educational institutions that train radiology technicians, and since there are so few human resources in that particular field, it is very difficult to recruit personnel. We will continue to promote recruitment activities using various methods and consider matters such as in-hospital staff training.
2. Improvement of access to healthcare in rural areas
  • In FY2024, medical staff were dispatched a total of 5 times to 2 rural hospitals in the Kroch Chhmar and Chamkarleu districts, which are located 2 hours away from the Japan Heart Children's Medical Center, to provide free medical care (317 patients) and surgery (85 cases). By educating patients about diseases through medical treatments, we are able to prevent diseases from worsening, and for patients who are eligible for surgery, we collaborate with local staff to perform surgery, which leads to saving patients to whom it has been difficult to perform surgery on until now. We also contribute to the development of healthcare professionals through medical activities conducted in cooperation with local staff, and we are gradually gaining the trust of patients and local residents in medical care.
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3. Enhancement of advanced medical devices
  • In FY2023, a surgical X-ray imaging device (C-arm) was introduced and installed in an X-ray-compatible operating room completed in FY2022.
    In addition, we prepared equipment, conducted training, and otherwise put systems in place and began full-scale operation in January 2024. This has enabled us to provide medical care to patients who previously could not undergo surgery due to a lack of equipment, and it continues to benefit many patients in FY2025.
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Myanmar: Maternal and child health service improvement program

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Partner
Specified Nonprofit corporation People's Hope Japan (hereinafter referred to as "PHJ")
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To address the issue of maternal mortality in Myanmar, we will work with PHJ to train maternal and child health care promoters in an aim to help local residents understand the risks of childbirth, strengthen local health service networks that connect local residents and midwives, and to improve access to maternal and child health care services for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Please see below for details of our activities
Program to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Myanmar (Overview and Progress)
Corresponding SDGs
3.1
By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births
Issues related to healthcare access in Myanmar and PHJ's activities

The maternal mortality rate in Myanmar is considered to be 250/100,000 live births (source: UNICEF, The State of the World's Children 2021). There is a big gap from the goal: "SDGs 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births." One of the causes is childbirth without assistance from healthcare professionals. In addition, the causes include a shortage of healthcare professionals, a shortage of appropriate devices at medical institutions, barriers to physical access, traditions of at-home childbirth, lack of community understanding of the risks associated with childbirth, etc. In addition, this issue is more significant in rural areas and there are differences in access to healthcare even within Myanmar.

Maternal mortality ratio(Per 100,000 live births)

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PHJ has engaged with this issue in Tatkone Township, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory for approximately six years starting in 2014 and achieved results in promoting the use of maternal and child health services in rural areas. PHJ has been expanding the effective models obtained from this activity into Lewe Township Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory since 2020 (we have supported part of this activity).

  • Source: Extracted from PHJ Annual Report 2022

PHJ aims to increase four indicators (pregnancy check up rate, rate of proportion of births attended by medical practitioners, institutional births rate, and postpartum checkups rate) for which the use rate is particularly low in rural areas.

Percentage of maternal and child health services accessed in the target area (before the start of the program)

Programs that ONO supports
[Target area]

Target area: Lewe Township, Nay Pyi Taw

[Support period]

Phase I: January 2023-December 2024
Phase II: January 2025-December 2026

[Issues]
  • Lack of local people's knowledge of the risks of childbirth: Lack of appropriate knowledge of the risks associated with childbirth, such as hypertension due to pregnancy, postpartum bleeding, etc. leads to delays in identifying danger signs during pregnancy or at the time of childbirth and in deciding to see a hospital.
  • Difficulty accessing health services: There are significant differences in the use status of maternal and child health services between urban areas and rural areas. The network between local people and health services, such as midwives, etc., is insufficient.
[PhaseⅠ]
Measures
  • This program trains maternal and child health promoters, monitors their activities, provides instructions, and provides re-training six months later.
    • "Maternal and child health promoters" are volunteers. After they complete a two-day training session specified by the Ministry of Health, they provide health education and visit pregnant women in their homes, and they serve as a bridge between local people and health services under the supervision and instruction of a midwife. After the training, they cooperate with midwives and auxiliary midwives and collect information on pregnant women, postpartum women, and children below the age of 5 in their villages, visit pregnant women in their homes, support vaccination by midwives, prepare reports, and more.
Targets
  • Train new maternal and child health promoters: 600 promoters by FY2024
  • Provide re-training to trained maternal and child health promoters: 300 promoters by FY2024
    One maternal and child health promoter will be assigned per five pregnant women to all villages (178 villages) based on the approximate number of childbirths in one year.
[Progress]
Initiatives Target
(FY2022-2024)
FY2022
(Jan - Mar 2023)
FY2023
(Apr 2023 – Mar 2024)
FY2024
(Apr – Mar 2024)
Status
Training maternal and child health promoters
  1. Train new maternal and child health promoters: 600 promoters
    1. Conduct two-day training stipulated by the Ministry of Health
    2. Assign maternal and child health promoters(1 promoter for every 5 pregnant women) to all 178 villages in the covered territory
  1. Selected 401 new candidates for next training session
  2. Provided trainer education for 55 local healthcare professionals so they ca train maternal and child health promoters
  1. Train 425 new maternal and child health promoters (108 villages)
  2. Training is conducted by local medical professionals who have attended trainer training
  1. Train 140 new maternal and child health promoters
Completed
  1. Provide re-training to maternal and child health promoters.
    Target: 300 promoters
  1. Preparation and coordination with the Lewe Township Health Department for the re-training of trained maternal and child health promoters.
  1. Conducted re-training for 360 trained maternal and child health care promoters
Completed
  1. Activity monitoring and instructions
    Target: Every year
  1. Midwives and maternal and child health promoters conducted a total of 150 health education sessions in rural areas within the township
  1. Midwives and maternal and child health promoters conducted a total of 477 health education sessions in rural areas within the township
  1. Midwives and maternal and child health promoters conducted a total of 392 health education sessions in rural areas within the township
  2. Skills monitoring for 36 auxiliary midwives and re-training for 38 within the township
Completed
[Our Annual Activities]
Activity status in FY2024

140 maternal and child health promoters were trained in FY2024. Those who completed the training worked together with midwives and auxiliary midwives to visit the homes of pregnant and postpartum women (at least once a month) in the rural areas of the township, encouraged the women to receive health checkups, raised awareness toward infectious disease prevention, and provided support for child vaccinations, among other activities. In addition, a total of 392 health education sessions were conducted.
In addition, for 360 of the maternal and child health promoters we have trained to date, we are re-training them so that they may reacquire knowledge and skills, including reconfirming appropriate health knowledge and learning how to conduct health education sessions and home visits.
Furthermore, amidst an absolute shortage of midwives, skill monitoring (36 midwives) and re-training (38 midwives) were conducted to improve the knowledge and skills of auxiliary midwives (45 in total in the Lewe Township), who play a major role in local maternal and child health care (maternal health checkups, postpartum examinations, childbirth assistance, etc.). This was done to develop health care personnel overall who are responsible for providing maternal and child health care in the region.

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Health Education for Pregnant and Childbearing Women
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Skill Monitoring Training for Assistant Midwives
[Phase Ⅱ] (From January 2025)
1. Improving access to maternal and newborn health services
Measures
  • Conduct re-training to support capacity building of maternal and child health promoters, as well as health education sessions by maternal and child health promoters, home visits to pregnant and nursing mothers, and awareness-raising activities at medical facilities, etc.
Targets
  • Re-training of Maternal and Child Health Promoters: 450 by FY2026
  • Health Education Sessions and Awareness-Raising Activities: 1,000 times by FY2026
2. Strengthening local health systems
Measures
  • Technical assistance that will include monitoring and evaluation meetings at the Lewe Township Health Department and assisting in conducting technical learning for health staff at the township health department.
  • Community medical personnel meetings will be held regularly to promote collaboration among the township health department, healthcare professionals, and the community, with a view to create an environment in which maternal and newborn care is carried out throughout the entire community.
Targets
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting at the Lewe Township Health Department, Technical Learning: 2 monitoring and evaluation meetings and 18 technical studies by FY2026
  • Community Medical Personnel Meetings: 8 times each at 40 rural medical facilities by FY2026
[Progress]
Initiatives Target
(FY2025-2026)
FY2025
(Jan - Dec 2025)
FY2026
(Jan - Dec 2026)
Status
Improving access to maternal and newborn health services
  1. Re-training of Maternal and Child Health Promoters: 450
on schedule
  1. Health Education Sessions and Awareness-Raising Activities: 1,000 times
on schedule
Strengthening local health systems
  1. Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting at the Lewe Township Health Department, Technical Learning: 2 monitoring and evaluation meetings and 18 technical studies
on schedule
  1. Community Medical Personnel Meetings: 8 times each at 40 rural medical facilities
on schedule
Please see below for past access to healthcare projects
ONO SWITCH Project from FY2018 to FY2021

We engaged in the ONO SWITCH Project from FY2018 to FY2021 as an initiative to promote both medical system support and work style reform. Under this initiative, donations are made to the medical-related NPOs/NGOs mentioned below who use the money saved by reducing overtime payments through the promotion of our work style reform. The project aims to contribute to the promotion of work style reform, healthcare, and people’s health around the world, thereby further promoting our corporate philosophy “Dedicated to the Fight against Disease and Pain.”

—Project name and concept—
Save the World by our work style ImprovemenT and CHange
The project name also expresses switching working styles, switching the funds obtained through work style reform to donations, and switching in the process of reviewing our working styles.
Please see the results for each fiscal year below.
ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., system

Participation in Access Accelerated

Since 2023, ONO has been participating in Access Accelerated, a global partnership that aims to improve access to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) prevention, treatment, and care in low- and lower-middle income countries.
Access Accelerated is an international initiative which was established at the World Economic Forum in 2017. Its member companies consist of more than 10 pharmaceutical companies in Japan, the United States and Europe. In partnership with organizations such as the World Bank Group, Access Accelerated is working to achieve one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets, namely “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from NCDs through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being” in low- and lower-middle income countries.
For more information on Access Accelerated activities, please visit the following website.
https://accessaccelerated.org/

ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD., system