Basic Policy
The Otsuka group considers healthy, energetic employees continually growing an indispensable element for implementing our corporate philosophy and undertakes initiatives that contribute to health maintenance and improvement. Convinced that diverse employees making contributions promotes innovation and globalization, we also focus on creating an environment that makes the most of individual capabilities and individuality. When creating this environment, we stress fairness and impartiality and give consideration to not undermining employees’ opportunities to grow and challenge themselves.
Health and Productivity Management

Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide
We believe that the physical and mental health of every employee is essential for us to live up to our corporate philosophy. We will strive for a working environment that supports employees in maintaining and improving their health, enabling them to play active roles while fully demonstrating their abilities and individuality.
Makoto Inoue
President and Representative Director, CEO
Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd
Promotion System for Health and Productivity Management
The mental and physical wellbeing of every employee is essential for the pursuit of the group's shared corporate philosophy. Therefore, Otsuka Holdings’ Executive Deputy President and Representative Director is in charge of health and productivity management, and under his supervision the Otsuka Pharmaceutical health insurance association, each group company’s health and productivity promotion manager, and specialist staff such as industrial physicians and nurses work collaboratively across the entire organization to help maintain and enhance the health of employees and their families. The Board of Directors also monitors issues related to maintaining and improving health as well as the goals and progress of health management initiatives.
Promotion System (Japan)

In addition, employees’ health-related information is integrated into the health management system* so that medical staff, health officers, and supervisors at all business sites can share information that is required at any time. Based on this information, the health of each group company is analyzed so that group initiatives can be formulated.
*A system for managing health information from regular medical examinations and interviews with employees by industrial health staff, etc.
Approach
Health Management Action Plan Goals and Progress
2023 target
Health checkup rate 90%
Implementation of specified healthcare guidance 55%
2023 progress
Health checkup rate 84.7%
Implementation of specified healthcare guidance 74%
2024 target
Health checkup rate 84%
Implementation of specified healthcare guidance 73.5%
*Insured persons and their dependents who are members of the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Health Insurance Association (for Otsuka group companies in Japan)
- Please also refer to Key Sustainability Data
Health Promotion Activities
Health Seminars: Ensuring the Good Health of Employees and their Families

The Otsuka Pharmaceutical Health Insurance Association, medical staff, and supervisors at all business sites work together to promote employee health. One such activity that started in 2015 is hosting health seminars for group employees and their families. Held in major cities across Japan, these seminars are aimed at communicating the group's initiatives on health, introducing the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Health Insurance Association, and disseminating information relevant to improving the health of employees and their families. The seminars consist of information that draws on knowledge gained in the group's businesses, and encourage employees and their families to reexamine their ideas about health.
Response to Female-Specific Health Issues
Within the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Health Insurance Association, encompassing all companies in the Otsuka group in Japan, a system has been established to support women navigating the physical and emotional transitions experienced throughout the different stages of their lives. Beginning in 2022, we have engaged a gynecology industrial physician, and concurrently, established a dedicated consultation service. Further, a seminar addressing the theme of women's health and presenteeism targeting all employees had wide-spread participation: approximately 5,700 employees. In 2023, we will conduct a survey of female employees, using the insights we gained to further address health issues. In addition, all female employees under the age of 30 who wish to be checked for cervical cancer viruses can do so at no cost, leading to early detection and early treatment of cervical cancer.
Improving Health Literacy
Otsuka Pharmaceutical health insurance association launched a cafeteria plan in 2023, under which points are awarded for such things as getting health checkups or physical examinations, and participating in health seminars, and employees are free to select and use the points awarded as a benefit package. In addition, Otsuka Pharmaceutical is working with other group companies to create and distribute health articles, such as “Healthy Alcohol Drinking Habits,” to help employees and their families maintain and improve their health.
Group-wide Initiatives (Japan, 2022)
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Health Insurance Association conducts an annual health promotion program for all Group employees.
No | Initiatives | Objective/Outline | Number of times implemented/duration |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Women’s online health seminar | Held a seminar on women’s health as well as awareness and management of women’s health issues by a gynecology industrial physician | Once |
2 | KENPOWALK | Smartphone walk rally with pedometer app to develop healthy habits | Three-month period |
3 | 30-day oral care challenge | Conduct jointly with Earth Corporation so that people can perform daily oral care correctly and effectively. | 30-day period |
4 | Smoking cessation support program | A medication-based program that provides a short-term smoking cessation experience. | May 2023 to June 2023 |
Mental Health Initiatives
At each domestic group company, all employees undergo an annual stress check in order to ascertain the mental burden they experience, to link that to improvements in self-care and workplace environment, and to prevent mental health problems. Nurses and public health nurses provide counseling for employees who are flagged as having a high stress level in the stress check. In this and other ways, we work to ensure the mental health of employees through a meticulous system, which includes mental health consultation services and seminars on mental health.
Infection Control and Prevention of Health Hazards
The Otsuka group has adopted new work practices to ensure that employees can work safely during the new strain of influenza or other infectious diseases, including remote working (from home) and the shift to electronic documentation and approvals.
Work style innovation
Overtime Reduction Policy
The Otsuka group believes that reducing long work hours is critical to maintaining the physical and mental health of every employee. Guided by this policy, each operating company undertakes its own initiatives for shortened work hours following the laws and regulations of each country and region.
Initiatives to Reduce Overtime Hours
The Otsuka group is working to visualize overtime hours as part of the attendance system to reduce overtime hours. Initiatives designed to prevent long work hours include displaying on individual computer screens a warning regarding Article 36 of the Labor Standards Act and unregistered attendance. We have also introduced a system where personnel departments can check when individuals log on and off their computer to maintain the physical and mental wellbeing of employees.
In order to reduce and shorten overtime, Otsuka Pharmaceutical requires employees to submit notifications before working overtime so that their supervisors can appropriately manage work hours. The company also mandates a minimum interval between shifts to foster an environment where employees can work in good health. Specifically, when an employee unavoidably works until late at night, a certain amount of rest time before the start of the next shift is guaranteed. In addition, at Otsuka Warehouse, the time that the last person leaves every head office department and branch office is posted on the intranet each day to make the work situation visible. The aim of this effort is to raise employees' awareness of productivity per hour. The company has also adopted a system to solve challenges in a company-wide effort rather than within each department alone.
In addition to the initiatives for its employees, Otsuka Warehouse have established a new truck reservation system to help solve the issues of long working hours for truck driver and the shortage of drivers and vehicles, which have become a challenge for the entire logistics industry. It is now possible to make online reservations for unloading times, in this way significantly reducing wait times for drivers and increasing the efficiency of transportation.
External Recognition
Description | Company | |
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Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (Large Enterprise Category, White 500) |
Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Taiho Pharmaceutical |
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Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (Large Enterprise Category) |
Otsuka Holdings, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Otsuka Warehouse, Otsuka Foods, Otsuka Chemical, Otsuka Foods, EN Otsuka Pharmaceutical |
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Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (SME Category, Bright 500) |
Otsuka Wellness Vending |
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Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (SME Category, Next Bright 1000) |
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Health Insurance Association, Otsuka Techno |
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Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (SME Category) |
Otsuka Medical Devices, Otsuka Business Support, Otsuka Electronics, Otsuka Mechatronics, Heartful Kawauchi, Okayama Taiho Pharmaceutical, Otsuka Packaging Industries, JIMRO, Tokushima Vortis |
Description | Company | |
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Sports Yell Company Program recognizing companies that actively support and promote measures to improve employees' health through sports. (Japan Sports Agency) |
Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Selected for eight consecutive years, Silver prize since 2024), Taiho Pharmaceutical (Selected for three consecutive years) |
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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Sports Promotion Model Company The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Sports Promotion Company certification program recognizes companies that implement quality initiatives to encourage and support employee participation in sports. |
Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Selected for ten consecutive years since 2015) |