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Social Challenges
Promoting Health
In Japan, the sustainability of social security systems is under threat, mainly because of increases in medical expenses caused by a rapidly aging society. Indeed, health problems are issues that need to be solved in all countries and regions, as poverty and medical circumstances are causing the deterioration of health and hygiene in developing countries and advanced countries have an increasing number of people suffering from lifestyle diseases.
Since its foundation in 1902, Dai-ichi Life has been endeavoring to promote health with the earnest wish for the healthy lives of all citizens. In recent years, the Company has built an industry-leading information network in cooperation with national research institutions for publicity activities regarding the prevention of cancers and medical care for longevity. We place customers' health before everything else and deliver the assurance of being healthy to our customers through life insurance.
In addition, starting in fiscal 2015 we launched the Run with You Project to support civic marathons, a familiar sport event, in an effort to promote healthy lifestyles and energize local communities.
Efforts to promote our customers' health
As the population is aging rapidly and extending of the healthy life expectancy has become a problem to be solved, Dai-ichi Life conducts a host of activities for the health of our customers.
To ensure that we deliver accurate and current medical information to customers, we have been coordinating with the leading national centers pursuing advanced and specialized medical research in Japan, including the National Cancer Center since 2012, as well as the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, National Institute of Longevity Sciences, National Center for Child Health and Development and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine. We make use of various tools, seminars and other activities to deliver educational information to customers of all ages with regards to the three major illnesses, namely cancer, acute myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as diabetes, hepatitis, infectious diseases, child health and development related to pregnancy, birth and child rearing, and long-term medical care for conditions such as dementia.
We provide individual customers with the Medical Support Service including consultation and supply of information for health, medical, childcare and nursing care issues. For corporate customers, we have been providing the Dai-ichi Life Health Support Desk service offering consultations on a wide range of topics from daily healthcare to psychological health.
Notice about agreements concluded with professional medical organizations
Health seminar for customers
Collaboration and cooperation with local governments
the Dementia Supporter Development Class
Children's Refuge Center
Leveraging its strength of having approximately 40,000 Total Life Plan Designers who are actively engaging in their duties at sales bases located in all 47 prefectures in Japan, Dai-ichi Life is promoting activities for building better local communities in cooperation with the local governments throughout Japan. Dai-ichi Life is developing partnerships with prefectural and city governments and promoting the conclusion of agreements in a wide variety of fields, including health promotion, the monitoring of elderly people and childcare support, in an effort to solve various challenges facing the local communities.
As of July 2023, Dai-ichi Life had agreements with local governments in all 47 prefectures of Japan and comprehensive agreements with 42 prefectures including Tokyo. Through these agreements, Dai-ichi Life helps develop solutions to the social issues affecting each region and contributions to regional revitalization.
Details of cooperation with local governments and examples of our activities
| Health promotion | Conducting activities to support the health of customers, such as recommending a cancer examination and providing health and medical information |
|---|---|
| Watching for the elderly | Building a system to ensure that elderly people can live in safety and security through our daily activities and cooperating smoothly with the government and other organizations in emergencies. |
| Supporting childcare / Promoting work-life balance | Providing information encouraging female employees and childcare support and running public awareness activities for child abuse prevention. We also provide information on systems to promote a work-life balance at small companies. |
| Prevention of damage caused by special fraud | Implementing anti-crime activities such as providing information on special fraud and raising awareness of dubious events. |
| Sports promotion | Promoting sports through cooperation in various forms, such as announcing and sponsoring the sports events of local governments. |
Public Health Award
Presentation ceremony for the 75th Public
Health Award
Dai-ichi Life established the Public Health Award in 1950 to show its gratitude and respect for the individuals and groups working to improve public health and hygiene amid worsening health conditions following World War II. With the support of organizations such as the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the award has been held annually, and having celebrated its 75th holding in 2023, is the longest-running corporate citizenship activity at the Company. The award honors the individuals and groups that have continually striven to tackle the issues of the day, including measures to deal with adult-onset diseases, welfare for the elderly and people with disabilities, overseas health care and disease control. We decided the award winners including 10 groups and 3 individuals in 2023.
Now, the total number of award winners has reached 1,107 in sum of 732 groups and 375 individuals.
Support for the Cardiovascular Institute
Outside appearance of the Cardiovascular Institute
Dai-ichi Life founded The Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) in 1959 for the purpose preventing, diagnosing and treating various cardiovascular diseases through medical research. CVI has continually announced countless clinical research outcomes that have contributed to the development of successful treatments, while at its attached hospital CVI employs a leading staff of medical professionals who perform cardiac catheterization procedures and cardiovascular surgeries, delivering advanced, cutting edge care.
We will continue to proactively contribute to the development of clinical medicine for cardiovascular diseases through our support of CVI.
Promotion of AED Workshops
In-house AED Workshops
70,000 people lose their lives to sudden cardiac death each year. In recognition of this reality, we periodically hold AED workshops in which participants can learn basic life support techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of AEDs. Through these workshops, we convey the importance of basic life support and brave action from the time of cardiac arrest until treatment by first responders and doctors. As a company engaged in the life insurance business, we will continue to encourage our employees and customers to undergo these courses to save as many lives as possible.
Promoting Blood Donations and Bone Marrow Bank Donor Registration
Blood Donations
As a life insurance provider, Dai-ichi Life is promoting blood donations and bone marrow bank registration under the spirit of mutual assistance embodied by the phrase, “one for all, all for one.” We have promoted bone marrow bank registration since fiscal 2010 with the hope that more people in need of bone marrow transplants will be given this potentially life-saving opportunity. To encourage employees to donate, we have also established a Donor Leave Program that allocates special paid leave to cover the time needed to recover from making a bone marrow donation. As for blood drives, in fiscal 2016 some 800 employees participated and donated their blood.
For our many years of contributions to blood donation drives, we received a letter of appreciation from the Governor of Tokyo in fiscal 2011 and the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in fiscal 2012.
Participation in the Table for Two Program
We have participated in the social contribution program run by Specified Nonprofit Corporation Table for Two International (TFT) since September 2013, through which we are providing a menu of healthy foods at our employee cafeteria located at the Hibiya head office, Toyosu head office and Oi office in accordance with TFT guidelines.
TFT is simultaneously working to improve the health of people in developing and developed countries and it makes a 20 yen donation (the cost of a school lunch in Africa) for every healthy TFT menu item eaten at the employee cafeteria.
A total of 86,160 qualifying meals have been served up to March 2017, resulting in a total of 1,723,190 yen being donated to purchase school lunches for African countries through TFT.
We will continue our involvement in this program as part of our commitment to promoting the health of our employees and making social contributions.
