Number of Pharmacy Bankruptcies Hits Record High of 30; “Monzen” Pharmacies Near Hospitals Stand Out; Rise of Drugstores with Dispensing Functions Cited as Factor – FNN Prime Online

Record High Number of Dispensing Pharmacy BankruptciesThis news shakes the foundation of pharmaceutical and medical separation and sounds an alarm for the entire medical industry. The fact that "Monzen" pharmacies, located near hospitals, are particularly prominent suggests not just the structure of pharmaceutical and medical separation, but also touches uponthe nature of regional medical cooperationThe increase in drugstores with dispensing functions, while offering improved patient convenience, has become a direct competitor to traditional "Monzen" pharmacies, highlighting a factor pressuring their management.

From the perspective of medical M&A and business succession,Options for "Business Continuity" Rather Than "Life Support"This suggests the increasing importance of M&A as an option for "Business Continuity" rather than "Life Support." To avoid the worst-case scenario of bankruptcy and to continue providing services to patients, maintaining employee employment, and contributing to regional healthcare, early consultation with specialists is essential as soon as signs of management deterioration appear. Particularly for "Monzen" pharmacies, which were premised on cooperation with hospitals, the management status of the hospitals themselves and trends in their reorganization/consolidation significantly impact the business succession strategy of the pharmacies. Missing the timing for business succession increases the risk not only of securing a sale price but also of increasing the burden of debt assumption and the impact on stakeholders.the continuity of their own practice, as well as their role and future vision within regional healthcareDispensing pharmacy owners, especially those facing succession issues, are compelled to strategically re-examine their role and future vision within regional healthcare, not just the continuity of their own practice.