Since 2017, the treatment of hepatitis C has been reimbursed by compulsory health insurance, regardless of disease progression or risk factors such as continued drug or alcohol use. The new, interferon-free drugs (direct-acting antiviral agents, or DAA) have very few side effects, are easy to take and have success rates of over 90%. In order to prevent the possible long-term effects of a chronic HCV infection such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer, treatment should therefore be sought in every case.

Given the dynamic nature of drug development in the field of hepatitis C, the recommendations regarding drug combination and treatment duration are constantly changing. The Swiss and European treatment guidelines, which are updated regularly, reflect the current state of practice.