(にほん)

Japan

(ちほう)

region; area

(いしゃ)

doctor

(かず)

number, count

(たりる)

to be enough; to be sufficient

(ちいき)

region; area

(ふえる)

to increase; to grow

(とくに)

especially / particularly

(こうれいしゃ)

elderly person

(おおい)

many

(むら)

village

(ちかく)

nearby

(びょういん)

hospital

(ない)

to not exist; there is no

(つういん)

going to the hospital; hospital visits

(おおきな)

big (attrib.)

(ふたん)

burden, bear (cost)

(なる)

to become

(こうした)

such / this kind of

(もんだい)

problem

(かいけつ)

solution, resolution

(いくつか)

several, a few

(おんらいん)

online

(しんりょう)

medical examination and treatment

(はじめる)

to begin, start

(かんじゃ)

patient

(じたく)

one's home; one's own house

(ぱそこん)

personal computer

(すまーとふぉん)

smartphone

(つかう)

to use

(がめん)

screen, display

(そうだん)

consultation; discussion

(くすり)

medicine

(やっきょく)

pharmacy

(はいたつ)

delivery

(うけとる)

to receive; to accept

(こうせいろうどうしょう)

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

(りよう)

use; utilization

(ひと)

person / people

(ねんねん)

year by year / annually

(たんとうしゃ)

person in charge

(いどう)

movement, to move

(むずかしい)

difficult

(とても)

very; extremely

(やくにたつ)

to be useful

(しくみ)

structure, system, mechanism

(せつめい)

explanation

(ただ)

only, just, ordinary

(つうしん)

communication, correspondence

(かんきょう)

environment

(ととのう)

to be in order; to be prepared/in place

(かだい)

issue, problem, challenge

(のこる)

to remain / to stay behind

(ひろげる)

to expand; to spread; to broaden

is doing, has been doing (ongoing state/action)

Expresses a continuing action or resulting state. Formed with て-form + いる. Can describe an action in progress or a state resulting from a past change.

because of ~ / for the sake of ~

ため after a noun or plain form indicates reason or purpose. Used twice: once for 'because of bear worries' and once for 'for the children's safety'.

through; by way of; via

Indicates the means or medium through which something is done. 画面を通して = 'through the screen'.

can; be able to (potential form)

The potential form of する expresses ability. 相談できる = 'can consult'.

according to ...

Cites a source of information. The noun before によると is the source. Often followed by a reported statement.

for ~ / from the perspective of ~

Indicates a point of view or perspective. Used twice here for 'the company' and 'the Vietnamese people'.

called/named ~

Used to introduce or name something. In this article, 「鳥貴族」という店 means 'a store called Torikizoku'.

地方の病院がオンライン診療を広げる

Rural Hospitals Are Expanding Online Medical Care

日本の地方では、医者の数が足りない地域が増えている。

In rural parts of Japan, the number of areas that lack enough doctors is increasing.

特に高齢者が多い村では、近くに病院がなく、通院が大きな負担になっている。

Especially in villages with many elderly residents, there is no hospital nearby, and traveling to one has become a heavy burden.

こうした問題を解決するため、いくつかの病院がオンライン診療を始めた。

To solve this problem, several hospitals have begun offering online medical care.

患者は自宅のパソコンやスマートフォンを使い、画面を通して医者に相談できる。

Patients can use a computer or smartphone at home to consult a doctor through the screen.

薬は近くの薬局や配達で受け取る。

They receive their medicine at a nearby pharmacy or by delivery.

厚生労働省によると、オンライン診療を利用する人は年々増えている。

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of people using online medical care is rising year by year.

担当者は「移動が難しい人にとって、とても役に立つ仕組みだ」と説明している。

A representative explains, "For people who have difficulty traveling, it is a very helpful system."

ただ、通信環境が整っていない地域では、利用が難しいという課題も残っている。

However, a challenge remains: in areas where the communication infrastructure is not well developed, the service is hard to use.