The market environment for medical wear remains relatively stable

「As these measures have progressed, a sense of reassurance has gradually begun to return to the market.」

「In addition to higher expenses resulting from rising prices and labor costs, declines in patient numbers and lower income following the end of subsidies for COVID-19 countermeasures compounded the pressure. As a result, the proportion of medical institutions operating at a loss increased, and the deterioration in operating income and expenses became pronounced.」

「Medical wear is both a consumable and a practical product, and the market recovered as delayed replacement projects emerged」

「Regarding the environment surrounding medical care and nursing care, the operating environment for medical facilities and other institutions became extremely difficult because, in addition to higher expenses for materials and utilities due to inflation, patient numbers declined and income fell following the end of subsidies for COVID-19 countermeasures.」

「This fiscal year is the year of the simultaneous revision of medical service fees and nursing care fees. The basic medical service fee increased by 0.88%, and nursing care fees increased by 1.59%, so both revisions were positive and the difficult operating environment is expected to ease. However, substantial allocations have also been made to improve the treatment of medical and nursing care workers, and concerns about the pressure that rising prices over the past several years have placed on medical and nursing care institutions have not been completely dispelled. Concerns therefore remain about an improvement in the operating environment.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding medical care and nursing care, medical and nursing care institutions remained in a difficult operating environment, as they had in the previous fiscal year, because of soaring prices and utility costs. The reduction and discontinuation of subsidies for COVID-19 countermeasures also became a major factor behind the deterioration in operating conditions.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding medical care and nursing care, the operating environment has become increasingly difficult as rapidly rising prices have increased procurement costs at medical and nursing care facilities. In addition, labor shortages, against a backdrop of work-style reforms and government requests to improve employee treatment, have raised serious concerns about higher labor costs.」

「Following the reclassification of COVID-19 as a Category 5 disease, medical and nursing care institutions have eased their emergency response systems and the situation has subsided. Meanwhile, inflation, including continued increases in the prices of various goods and labor costs, has rapidly worsened the operating environment across the industry, including not only medical and nursing care institutions but also suppliers.」

「In March, restrictions on mask wearing were eased, and from May the legal classification of COVID-19 was changed from Category 2 to Category 5 under the Infectious Diseases Act, enabling the medical supply system to gradually regain stability. Meanwhile, the operating environment for medical and nursing care facilities has begun to deteriorate rapidly as prices of various goods have risen amid ongoing inflation and wages for medical and nursing care workers have also increased.」

「In the medical wear market, the impact of COVID-19 on replacement demand has diminished each year because these products are practical consumables, and the market has regained stability.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding medical care and nursing care, medical and nursing care facilities have regained stability following the subsiding of the pandemic since the summer and appear to be entering a new phase aimed at establishing a system for coexistence with COVID-19.」

「Although the spread of COVID-19 accelerated from the summer onward and infections reached a record high, the market did not experience major disruption and is considered to have remained relatively stable, owing to the lower rate of severe cases and appropriate responses by medical professionals.」

「In the medical wear market, the impact of COVID-19 was limited because these products are practical consumables, and the market remained relatively stable.」

「In the medical wear market, the impact of COVID-19 on replacement demand has been diminishing each year because these products are practical consumables, and the market is considered to have remained relatively stable.」

「As the number of new COVID-19 infections fell sharply from its summer peak, the numbers of hospitalizations and severe cases declined substantially, and medical institutions have finally begun to regain stability after a period of severe strain on medical services.」

「Regarding the environment surrounding medical care and nursing care, the number of people infected with COVID-19 has continued to fluctuate, and areas nationwide where medical supply systems are under strain have expanded. Tense conditions have continued at medical and nursing care facilities. However, vaccination rates have gradually increased over time, and the number of infections is expected to subside as the pandemic comes to an end.」

「Against this backdrop, the medical wear market during the cumulative third quarter of the current consolidated fiscal year remained stable as the market settled, partly because these products are practical consumables.」

「Against this backdrop, the medical apparel market during the cumulative second-quarter period of the current consolidated fiscal year regained stability from the disruption seen in the previous fiscal year, partly because these products are practical consumables, and remained relatively stable.」

「Amid growing concern about a resurgence of COVID-19 infections, medical institutions have become increasingly concerned about the situation. Care facilities have also continued efforts to prevent infection clusters, and the medical and long-term care industries are believed to be increasingly anxious about the uncertain outlook for the infection situation.」

「Regardless of whether they accepted COVID-19 patients, most medical facilities experienced a significant deterioration in their operating environment due to a sharp decline in patient numbers. Government support for healthcare, including special medical reimbursement measures and the free distribution of medical supplies, has not yet produced sufficient results, and additional measures are urgently needed.」

「During the cumulative third-quarter period of the current consolidated fiscal year, medical apparel market conditions remained challenging, as the disruption in medical and long-term care settings following the outbreak of COVID-19 impeded product updates and deliveries.」

「Medical institutions were thrown into confusion as they responded to the rapidly expanding COVID-19 pandemic, and market conditions are believed to have been affected, including by delays in scheduled deliveries.」

「As this was a consecutive revision following the April 2018 fee revision, and an unusual October revision, the market appears to have experienced some disruption.」

「The market regained a sense of calm following positive revisions to both medical and long-term care reimbursement rates, and is believed to have remained largely stable.」

「Against this backdrop, medical apparel market conditions during the cumulative third-quarter period of the current consolidated fiscal year are believed to have remained relatively stable.」

「Against this backdrop, medical apparel market conditions during the cumulative second-quarter period of the current consolidated fiscal year are believed to have remained relatively stable.」