Following the closure of local pharmacies on remote islands off Okinawa's main island, Sukoyaka pharmacy in Naha has begun dispensing medicines via video calls. This service now reaches residents on Minamidaito Island and Yonaguni Island, hundreds of kilometers away.
Remote islands in Okinawa have long faced challenges in accessing medical services. After pharmacies on Minamidaito Island and Yonaguni Island shuttered, the Kyohara branch of Sukoyaka pharmacy in Naha stepped in with an enhanced online service. This allows residents to receive medicines without traveling to the mainland.
On a day in September, 63-year-old pharmacist Kunihiro Nitta chatted amiably with a patient from Minamidaito village via video call. “How are you feeling? I’m going to dispense a 20-day supply of medicine to you as I did last time,” he said. Through such interactions, the pharmacy checks patients' conditions while shipping prescribed drugs.
Minamidaito Island lies about 360 kilometers east of Okinawa's main island, and Yonaguni Island is similarly distant. Sukoyaka's initiative represents a new model for internet-based pharmaceutical delivery. For islanders, it reduces travel burdens and makes routine healthcare more accessible. However, issues like video call reliability and privacy protection remain.
