Amid Soaring Costs, Toyota Will Open Onsite Health Care Clinic

Washington Dc November 8, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that in an effort to curtail soaring health care costs, which have doubled over the past five years and now average more than $11,000 per worker per year, Toyota has decided to build a $9 million clinic at its San Antonio, Texas plant to provide workers a wider array of treatments and services than typical at factory medical offices.

The clinic will be managed by CHD Meridian Health Care and will initially employ two full-time doctors and one part-time. However, the number of doctors is expected to increase to seven once the plant is fully staffed.

"It's for employees, their families and for suppliers," said plant manager Hidehiko "T.J." Tajima. "If it's successful, we'll spread the concept to other plants."

Toyota predicted Tuesday that it would earn a record $13 billion for the year after reporting a 34 percent surge in its second-quarter profit, reflecting strong vehicle sales and a weaker yen, reports The Detroit News.

Toyota's exports to U.S. have jumped more than 70 percent this year, as demand for its vehicles outpaced the automaker's U.S. production capacity.