Japanese government asks business community to improve production of medical supplies

The federal government again called on the business enterprise community to cooperate in increasing the production of medical supplies, such as for example masks and respirators, which have been in short supply because of the spread of the coronavirus. Although financial organizations are ready to cooperate, there are plenty of issues that have to be tackled, including regulations and technological capabilities.

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama held talks with Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Chairman Hiroaki Nakanishi and Kengo Sakurada, chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) on Tuesday.

“The shortage will continue. Countries are fighting [for medical supplies] all over the world,” Kajiyama said, explaining the reason for the current shortage of masks and protective clothing.

“We wish to ask companies who will not make medical supplies to cooperate aswell,” Kajiyama said, requesting cooperation in supplying manufacturing equipment and dispatching engineers.

Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato, who was also present at the meeting, said, “We would like other industries to help us.”

“Medical devices aren’t very easy, there are licensing issues, etc.,” Nakanishi said. “I wish to make an all-out effort because it is a national crisis.”

Sharp Corp., a major consumer electronics maker, is defined to enter the mask production market. Toyota Motor Corp. also said it will start producing “face shields” for medical professionals by using a 3D printer usually used to create prototype car parts. The business will also produce masks at the factories of group companies such as for example Denso Corp. and Toyota Boshoku Corp.

However, the production of protective clothing and other products has been slow as a result of a shortage of workers. Furthermore, there are just a few domestic manufacturers and specialists with the ability to produce the ventilators that are necessary for patients with extreme pneumonia, and there is no prospect of new entrants.