Significant Expansion of Special Health Checkup Targets for Female Farmers... 90% Cost Support Provided

Health Checkups for 30,000 People in 50 Cities and Counties This Year
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs "To Expand Nationwide Next Year"

The government will significantly expand the target cities and counties for the special health checkup program for female farmers this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 15th that it has selected 50 cities and counties as targets for this year's special health checkup program for female farmers.

An official from the ministry stated, "Last year, the program covered 18 cities and counties and 9,000 people, but this year it will be greatly expanded to 50 cities and counties and 30,000 people. We also plan to increase the number of medical institutions participating in the checkups, considering the locations of the cities and counties."

Considering the poor accessibility to medical institutions in rural areas, the 'mobile checkup type,' which provides convenience by visiting rural sites with a checkup bus, will be expanded from 1 city/county last year to 7 cities/counties this year to increase the checkup rate. The remaining 43 cities and counties will proceed with the existing 'hospital checkup type.'

The special health checkup for female farmers is designed to prevent diseases frequently occurring due to agricultural work. It covers 10 items across 5 areas: musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, fracture and injury risk, lung function, and pesticide poisoning, and is conducted every two years. Additionally, it provides early diagnosis of work-related diseases, post-management and prevention education, and specialist consultations, with 90% of the checkup costs supported.

Female farmers selected as special checkup candidates undergo examinations at special health checkup hospitals designated by the Wonjin Occupational Disease Management Foundation (hospital checkup type) or via the checkup bus (mobile checkup type). To enhance convenience, the general health checkup conducted by the National Health Insurance Service and the special health checkup for female farmers can be taken together at hospitals. The target group consists of female farmers aged 51 to 70, born in even-numbered years, residing in the participating cities and counties.

Kim Jong-gu, Director of the Rural Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Following a two-year pilot project, this year marks the full-scale implementation of the special health checkup for female farmers. We will operate it thoroughly to prevent and manage agricultural work-related diseases among female farmers." He added, "Next year, we plan to expand the program to all female farmers aged 51 to 70 nationwide."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.