[First in Kanagawa Prefecture] Sagamihara Community Pharmacy to Become "Medical DX Hub" with Introduction of AI-Powered Dispensing Robot. "Wakaba Pharmacy," Open for 14 Years, to Fully Renovate on May 7.

Wakaba Holdings (Wakaba Co., Ltd. and Fultise Co., Ltd., Headquarters: Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, CEO: Nobuyasu Sugimoto) announces that it will fully renovate its Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori store, located in Midori-ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and will hold its grand reopening on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori store is a community-based insurance pharmacy with a 14-year history. This renovation will promote the automation of "objective tasks"—the physical handling of medicines by pharmacists—to create an environment where they can concentrate on "interpersonal tasks" such as patient dialogue, medication adherence support, and health consultations. At the core of this initiative is the state-of-the-art automated drug storage and dispensing system (dispensing robot) "RIEDL Phasys" (domestic distributor: Medical Yours Robotics Co., Ltd.), the first of its kind to be introduced in Kanagawa Prefecture. Amid a worsening labor shortage and the shift toward "interpersonal tasks" required by the 2026 revision of dispensing fees, we aim to become a model case for improving operational efficiency through technology. **First in Kanagawa Prefecture to Introduce the AI-Powered "RIEDL Phasys" Robot, with Only 13 Units Nationwide, to Promote Automation of Objective Tasks** "RIEDL Phasys" is a system that uses AI technology to automate the receiving, storage, inventory management, and dispensing of pharmaceuticals. It is a cutting-edge device with only 13 units currently installed nationwide, and Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori store will be the first to introduce it in Kanagawa Prefecture. By automating drug receiving, inventory management, and picking (*), the system significantly reduces the burden of routine tasks previously handled by clerical staff. This allows clerical staff to shift to interpersonal tasks like patient support, while pharmacists can concentrate on their specialized duties such as medication guidance and recording medication history. *Picking is the task of gathering the appropriate medicines from the shelves based on a prescription. It is one of the most frequent tasks in dispensing operations and a major process that consumes staff time. **Image of the model being introduced at our pharmacy Reference values: Expected effects of introduction** ▶︎ **Reduces waiting time by approximately 171 seconds** The waiting time per prescription is expected to be significantly reduced from the conventional 8 minutes and 17 seconds to 5 minutes and 26 seconds. ▶︎ **Capable of dispensing up to approximately 650 boxes per hour** ▶︎ **Dispensing in as fast as 5 seconds** This minimizes the time lag between prescription reception and the start of dispensing. *The waiting time reduction figures are based on the performance of an older, pre-improvement robot model. Further positive effects are anticipated with "RIEDL Phasys." *Numerical data provided by Medical Yours Robotics Co., Ltd. Additionally, the dispensing room will be expanded and designed so that patients can see the robot in operation. We will offer a new pharmacy experience, allowing the local community to see a "pharmacy where robots work to support pharmacists." As a pharmacy where people can experience the forefront of Medical DX in real life, we will provide new value to the community. Even after implementation, we will continue to monitor waiting times, operational efficiency, and the quality of patient interaction to verify the effects of Medical DX on a community pharmacy. **Hardware Refresh: Enhancing Usability and Privacy as a Community Pharmacy** AI-generated image of the current waiting room concept Current exterior of Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori store (exterior will also be renovated) ▶︎ **Spacious Waiting Room** Expanded to a waiting room with over 20 seats. A bright and calm space where families can spend time together. ▶︎ **Private Booths Installed** New private booths have been set up to ensure privacy. This creates an environment where patients can discuss sensitive conditions or leftover medication without worrying about being seen or heard by others, allowing for comfortable consultations about their medicines. ▶︎ **Automated Payment & Self-Checkout** Digital signage will be introduced for a smooth process from reception to payment. Staffed registers will also remain available. ▶︎ **Expanded Retail Shelves** Featuring OTC drugs, daily necessities, and pharmacy-selected foods. You can visit without a prescription. **Pre-send Prescriptions via LINE to Reduce Post-Visit Wait Times and Simplify Pick-up, with Enhanced Medication Support** Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori store has introduced "Pocket Musubi," which allows patients to send prescriptions in advance through its official LINE account. By simply taking a photo of the prescription with a smartphone and sending it, the pharmacist can begin preparing the medication beforehand. A notification is sent via LINE upon completion, allowing patients to pick up their medicine while running errands after their hospital visit. Patients can send prescriptions from multiple medical institutions or for family members all at once, and receive medication reminders and follow-up messages from the pharmacist through LINE. For those who are not comfortable with digital tools, in-person services will continue to be available. Just send an image of the prescription from the menu screen Actual LINE message screen from Wakaba Pharmacy We will notify you via LINE when your medicine is ready at the pharmacy By establishing this system, we will be better able to fulfill the original function of a primary pharmacy, such as "unified medication management," which involves managing all medications prescribed by multiple medical institutions to prevent leftover medication and polypharmacy. **[Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori Store Official LINE]** You can add us as a friend from the link below. https://lin.ee/Oblq75E (LINE ID: @196ceyky) We accept prescriptions from any medical institution nationwide. **Commemorative Sale for the Local Community to Celebrate the Renewal (May 7-30)** To celebrate the grand reopening, we will be selling products at special prices for 21 days from Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 30, 2026. You are welcome to stop by even without a prescription. During the sale period, customers who purchase ¥2,000 (incl. tax) or more of eligible products (excluding prescription drugs) will receive a choice of novelty gift. ・Loxoprofen Tablets "Kunihiro" 12 tablets An antipyretic analgesic. Limit one per person. As a Category 1 drug, it will be sold by a pharmacist. ・Cutban Elastic Fabric M 18 sheets ・Disaster Prevention Bread "V-Aid Bread" (up to 5-year shelf life) Vegan-friendly. Popular not only as emergency food but also for picnics due to its cute and delicious nature. *Sale items are available in limited quantities and the offer will end once they are sold out. During the sale period, we will also run a "Choose Your Novelty Gift" campaign for customers who purchase ¥2,000 (incl. tax) or more of eligible products (excluding prescription drugs). We also sell pharmacy staff-selected foods and daily necessities. We carry carefully selected products that are rarely found in general drugstores. We aim to dispel the stereotype that 'a pharmacy is just a place to get medicine' and create a store that people can feel free to drop by for even a single daily necessity, functioning as a community health hub. **From a Sagamihara Community Pharmacy: How to Create Time for Pharmacists to Engage with Patients—A Medical DX Implementation Case for Community Pharmacies in View of the 2026 Dispensing Fee Revision** It has been 10 years since the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced its "Vision for Patient-Oriented Pharmacies." The role required of pharmacies has significantly shifted from an era centered on "objective tasks"—accurately preparing medicines—to "interpersonal tasks" that involve continuously monitoring patients' medication status and supporting their overall lives. The 2026 revision of dispensing fees will further accelerate this trend by implementing a system that more strictly evaluates the performance of primary pharmacists in medication follow-up and lifestyle guidance. We believe that the era where the true expertise of pharmacists is tested has arrived. However, in the dispensing field, objective tasks (picking, inventory management, auditing, etc.) place a significant burden on the entire staff, creating a structural problem that makes it difficult for pharmacists to concentrate on their primary professional duties. In this renewal, we will automate the routine tasks of clerical staff by introducing robots and self-checkout systems. This will allow clerical staff to shift to interpersonal tasks like patient support, creating a system where pharmacists can dedicate themselves to medication guidance and history management. For us, there is only one reason to introduce robots and digital technology: "To create more time for patients and pharmacists to talk more deeply." Midori-ku, Sagamihara City, where Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori store is located, is an aging community, making the presence of a trusted local pharmacy for consultation more important than ever. We have been rooted in this community for 14 years. By simultaneously achieving automation of objective tasks with AI robots and enhancing patient services with digital technology, we want to establish a "pharmacy where pharmacists can truly engage with patients" in the community. Furthermore, an environment where pharmacists can focus on their professional duties will serve as a foundation for strengthening our in-home visit support for patients continuing their treatment at home. Building on the trust we have cultivated over 14 years, we will demonstrate a new form of a primary pharmacy as a practical hub for regional medical DX. Pharmacy exterior (the exterior will also be renovated) An AI-generated image of the current waiting room concept ■ Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori Store Overview Store Name: Wakaba Pharmacy Sagamihara Midori Store Location: 1586-1 Oshima, Midori-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-0135 TEL: 042-764-6826 Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM / Closed: Sundays & Holidays Access: From Hashimoto Station, take the bus to "Osawa Machizukuri Center" stop / Parking available / Adjacent to Koyu Sagamihara Hospital LINE "Prescription Sending Function" available LINE: Add friend here (ID @196ceyky) (https://lin.ee/Oblq75E) Official Website: Homepage Store Information Instagram: @wakabapharmacy_smidori X (formerly Twitter): @wakaba_smidori Google Maps: Location Information We accept prescriptions from any medical institution nationwide. If you ever wonder, "Is it okay to ask about this...?" please feel free to stop by. **Company Information & Inquiries** Wakaba Holdings (Wakaba Co., Ltd. and Fultise Co., Ltd.) Headquarters: 7F Kosei Dai-3 Building, 2-12-11 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Contact: Public Relations TEL: 045-475-3251 (to PR department) Inquiry Form: https://www.wakaba-hldgs.co.jp/contact/ *For inquiries regarding media coverage or publication, please use the form above.