News Navigator: Why is the Japanese gov’t ending subsidies for COVID treatment?

The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the end of government subsidies for COVID-19 treatment and how much a patient will have to copay.

Question: When will the special aid for the cost of COVID-19 treatment end?

Answer: From April onward, coronavirus infections will be treated under the same medical system as other diseases. Japan downgraded COVID-19 to “Class 5” under the infectious disease control law in May last year, the same as seasonal influenza. Since it was difficult to predict where the coronavirus infection situation was headed, the government had continued to provide financial support to patients and medical institutions for COVID-19 treatment, but this will end at the end of March.

Q: Why is the government ending the subsidy program?

A: A health ministry official cites a decrease in the number of coronavirus infections as the reason. The number of infected patients per fixed-point medical institution was 6.15 for the week of March 11-17. Even in January and February, when infections were more likely to spread, the maximum number of patients was about 16 a week, and there were not as many serious cases or deaths as in the past.

Q: About how much will people have to copay?

A: Until the end of March, the copay for medications is limited to a maximum of 9,000 yen (approx. $60), but from April onward, the patient will have to cover 10% to 30% of the cost, depending on the individual’s copay rate. For example, the cost of a five-day supply of the antiviral drug Xocova is about 52,000 yen ($340), so those with a 30% copay are expected to have to pay more than 15,000 yen ($100). When it comes to the cost of staying in hospital for COVID-19, in addition to the high-cost medical expense benefit program which sets a ceiling on monthly fees, 10,000 yen is reduced from the copay. These subsidies will also end.

Q: Will this be the end of the government’s response to the coronavirus?

A: The health ministry says that it will continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 patients and how much the medical system is strained. It will also continue responding to the aftereffects of the disease. A ministry official explained, “If there is another rapid spread of infections, we will take similar measures as we did in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.”

(Japanese original by Kanae Soejima, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)