ADDING MULTIMEDIA Providing Free Health Care to Over 700,000 Afghan Refugees:
The 10th Anniversary of the "Otsuka Welfare Clinic"

  • The “Otsuka Welfare Clinic,” established in 2003 in Peshawar, Pakistan as a clinic for Afghan refugees, celebrated its 10th anniversary with a commemorative ceremony.
  • Since the 9/11 terror attacks, 1.8 million Afghan refugees have fled to Pakistan. Seeing firsthand that these refugees did not have access to adequate healthcare, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, working in partnership with 24 Otsuka Group companies doing business in Western Asia and Arab countries, founded the Otsuka Welfare Clinic to provide free treatment for a wide range of diseases out of a strong desire to provide health care to the people in the region.
  • Even today, the conflict drags on, and 1-1.2 million refugees are living in Pakistan. The clinic sees approximately 150 people per day, and has treated more than 700,000 people in the past 10 years.
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The Founding of the Otsuka Welfare Clinic

TOKYO & ISLAMABAD--()--On December 3, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Corporate Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Taro Yamamoto) held a ceremony in Islamabad to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Otsuka Welfare Clinic, which was founded in Peshawar, Pakistan in order to provide health care to Afghan refugees. About 100 guests, including the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, attended the ceremony.

The 1.8 million refugees who fled to Pakistan from neighboring Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in America ended up in a refugee camp in Peshawar close to the border without food or clothing. At that time, Otsuka Pakistan donated infusion solution products through the Red Cross but, as a company that was looking to expand in Western Asian and Arab countries, Otsuka Pakistan felt a strong desire to be more involved in directly helping the refugees, and began studying what could be done. Ultimately, a decision was made to provide free health care people at the refugee camp who did not have access to adequate medicine, and the Otsuka Welfare Clinic was established in 2003.

Today there are still 1-1.2 million refugees living in Pakistan. The refugees still do not have access to appropriate medical care, approximately 150 people a day, mostly women and children, have been coming to the Otsuka Welfare Clinic, which has treated more than 700,000 people since it opened.

His Highness Mr. Hiroshi Inomata in his speech as Chief Guest applauded all those who are working at Otsuka Welfare Clinic as well as those who are supporting their cause and praised them very highly. He also appreciated the role of Otsuka Pakistan in running this clinic continuously for patients fleeing from Afghanistan and local residents.

In order to be able to coordinate activities with all Otsuka Group companies doing business in Western Asia and Arab countries as a single unit, and to construct a firm foundation for future business in the region and cultivate opportunities for new business ventures, Otsuka Pharmaceutical launched the Otsuka International Asia Arab Division (OIAA). Masayuki Umeno, Vice-President and Otsuka Board Member with overall responsibility for Western Asia and Arab countries, said “With the support of many others, the Otsuka Welfare Clinic has for 10 years been able to provide health care to many refugees living in Peshawar. As a health care company, Otsuka will continue to support the health of people around the world.”

Under Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s corporate motto of “Otsuka – people creating new products for better health worldwide,” Otsuka will continue to develop businesses that make it their mission to support the health of people everywhere on Earth, and will continue pursuing its vision of improving health and contributing to local societies as a health care company. The 25 companies in the Otsuka Group in Western Asia and Arab countries, including Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Otsuka Pakistan, are working to put down roots in the region to continue improving the lives of the local populations.

About Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: 'Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide.' Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative and original products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products for the treatment of diseases and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health. In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leading firm in the challenging area of mental health and also has research programs for several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue. These commitments illustrate more powerfully than words how Otsuka is a “big venture” company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does. Otsuka is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., the holding company for the Otsuka Group. The chairman Akihiko Otsuka is the third generation of Otsuka family members to lead the business, whose origins date from 1921. The Otsuka Group employs approximately 42,000 people globally and its products are available in more than 80 countries worldwide. Consolidated sales were approximately USD 13 billion for fiscal year 2012 (4/1/2012-3/31/2013). Otsuka Pharmaceutical warmly invites you to visit its global website at https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/

Background information of Otsuka Welfare Clinic:

It was founded on June 16, 2003 with founding capital of USD$100,000. It has respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, dermatology, obstetrics, gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and has eight regular staff, including three physicians, assisted by nurses, pharmacists and midwives.

Contacts

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Rosa Yum, +81-3-6361-7379
Supervisor, Public Relations Department
rosa.yum@otsuka.jp

Release Summary

The "Otsuka Welfare Clinic," established in 2003 in Peshawar, Pakistan as a clinic for Afghan refugees, celebrated its 10th anniversary with a commemorative ceremony.

Contacts

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Rosa Yum, +81-3-6361-7379
Supervisor, Public Relations Department
rosa.yum@otsuka.jp