Owing to the high cost of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), most patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection seeking antiviral therapies frequently utilize a government subsidy. This subsidy can only be obtained through doctors who are authorized by prefectural governments, and the patient must fill out a medical certificate. Since doctors in Suzu General Hospital are unauthorized, patients admitted for HCV infection had difficulty obtaining adequate antiviral therapies. At that time, some authorized and specialized doctors in Ishikawa Prefecture helped five admitted patients with HCV infection apply for the subsidy using telemedicine. Finally, using the subsidy, the patients were treated with DAAs and achieved a sustained viral response. Proving telemedicine's utility in availing antiviral therapies to patients with HCV infection.
