In 1Q of the previous year the Healthcare Business was at a low ebb due to the rise of the consumption tax rate in Japan, reforms of the medical system and so on, but in 1Q this year the domestic market showed a recovery in form and revenue increased 11% year on year. In overseas markets such as the United States and India revenue also rose significantly.
In the Healthcare Business there is a tendency for purchasing decisions to be concentrated in March, the end of the fiscal year, which means that it is usually difficult to generate profits in 1Q and 3Q and as a result profit was almost unchanged from the previous year.
Viewed overall, the main features were, for example, a substantial decline in upfront investment in the ultrasound business and an increase of ¥400 million in SG&A expenses year on year in order to grow revenues. Some parts had a following wind from the exchange rate and still have a few remaining issues, but there is a feeling that the business will have bottomed out in the second quarter.
In the Healthcare Business there is a tendency for purchasing decisions to be concentrated in March, the end of the fiscal year, which means that it is usually difficult to generate profits in 1Q and 3Q and as a result profit was almost unchanged from the previous year.
Viewed overall, the main features were, for example, a substantial decline in upfront investment in the ultrasound business and an increase of ¥400 million in SG&A expenses year on year in order to grow revenues. Some parts had a following wind from the exchange rate and still have a few remaining issues, but there is a feeling that the business will have bottomed out in the second quarter.