On December 10, 2018, The City of Yokohama announced a new partnership with the Yokohama University of Pharmacy and the Yokohama Pharmaceutical Association to begin operating mobile pharmacies to serve residents at times of disaster-related emergency. The first vehicle will be ready for dispatch by March 2019, and the second vehicle, which will have the capacity of hauling a water truck, will be on the road by October. Yokohama is proud to be the very first among Japan’s 20 designated cities (cities with a population greater than 500,000 that are designated by government ordinance) to own and operate its own mobile pharmacies.
At times of need, the mobile pharmacies will deliver critical pharmacy care services to Yokohama residents, such as medication counseling and handing out prescriptions. Each vehicle is equipped with the following appliances: medication storage cabinet, electronic scale, automatic packaging machine, liquid medication dispenser, clean bench, medical refrigerator, and multi-channel access radio system for emergency communication. In addition, each car is equipped with basic living appliances such as bed, toilet, and air conditioning so that medical staff can stay overnight. Each car can carry up to 3 medical staff. The mobile pharmacies can continue to operate during power outages, as they carry NMG power generation systems which can store electricity and power appliances even when the car engine is not running.
The City of Yokohama is committed to harnessing the power of innovation and collaboration to address key social issues that matter to the wellbeing of our residents. During normal times, the mobile pharmacies will be used for emergency training and educational purposes.
Learn more: Innovation in Yokohama
