Impact of Disasters, Epidemics and Other Events on Store Operations

「In the Reiwa 6 Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred in January 2024, no employees suffered personal injury. However, 3 stores in Ishikawa Prefecture sustained significant damage requiring temporary closure. The company dispatched approximately 70 employees from across Japan and worked to provide safe and secure medical care, prioritizing the continuity of medical services. At QOL Notocho Pharmacy, water outages continued and reopening took time, so the company opened a temporary store at Noto Town Matsunami Junior High School after confirming the arrangement with the local authorities.」

「In the dispensing pharmacy industry, the effects of patients refraining from visiting medical institutions and the curtailment of outpatient services have eased as the number of COVID-19 infections has declined.」

「During the third quarter of the fiscal year, the outlook remained uncertain due to the spread of the eighth wave of COVID-19, soaring energy prices, rising prices and other factors.」

「At the same time, the situation remains unpredictable, as the seventh wave of COVID-19 caused a sharp increase in infections, leading to renewed increases in patients refraining from seeking medical care and restrictions on outpatient services at medical institutions.」

「In the dispensing pharmacy industry, there were signs of a move toward normalization of economic activity, including the easing of restrictions on activities as the number of new COVID-19 infections declined. However, the effects of patients refraining from visiting medical institutions and the curtailment of outpatient services due to the spread of COVID-19 have continued to some extent.」

「In the Insurance Pharmacy Business, the effects of patients refraining from visiting medical institutions and the curtailment of outpatient services are expected to continue to some extent due to COVID-19. The timing of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain, and changes in its impact on the economic environment may affect the Group's performance.」

「In Japan, the spread of COVID-19 vaccination led to a decline in new infections and signs of a gradual recovery. However, infections caused by the highly transmissible Omicron variant increased, making the outlook uncertain again.」

「The dispensing pharmacy industry remains in a difficult environment, affected by patients refraining from visiting medical institutions and the curtailment of outpatient services due to the spread of COVID-19. However, there are signs of a gradual recovery, including a decline in the number of new infections as COVID-19 vaccination has become more widespread.」

「The dispensing pharmacy industry remains in a difficult environment, affected by patients refraining from visiting medical institutions and the curtailment of outpatient services due to the spread of COVID-19.」

「In the Insurance Pharmacy Business, the number of prescriptions has declined due to COVID-19, as patients have refrained from visiting medical institutions, outpatient services at medical institutions have been curtailed, and prescription durations have been extended.」

「The dispensing pharmacy industry remains in a difficult environment, affected by a decline in the number of visits as patients refrain from visiting medical institutions and outpatient services are curtailed due to the spread of COVID-19.」

「The dispensing pharmacy industry remains in a difficult environment, affected by a decline in the number of visits as patients refrain from visiting medical institutions and outpatient services are curtailed due to the spread of COVID-19.」

「The dispensing pharmacy industry remains in a difficult environment, including a decline in the number of patient visits and other effects of the spread of COVID-19, as patients have refrained from visiting medical institutions and outpatient services have been curtailed. At the same time, measures such as the use of online medication guidance are being rapidly promoted to ensure the continued provision of medical care and to respond to changes in lifestyles.」

「In the Insurance Pharmacy Business, the number of prescriptions has declined due to COVID-19, as patients have refrained from visiting medical institutions, outpatient services at medical institutions have been curtailed, and prescription durations have been extended. If infections spread further or persist for an extended period, the Group's performance may be affected.」

「If an unforeseen fire, terrorist attack, war, epidemic, earthquake, extreme weather event or other incident occurs in the regions where the Group operates and causes damage to stores, suspends product supplies to stores or otherwise prevents stores from continuing operations, the Group's performance and other factors may be affected.」

「If an unforeseen man-made disaster, such as a fire, terrorist attack, war or epidemic, or a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or extreme weather, causes damage to stores, suspends product supplies to stores or otherwise prevents stores from continuing operations, the Group's business operations, performance and financial condition may be affected.」