[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 22nd that it will open a public contest for disability-friendly health screening institutions and regional disability health care center operating organizations.
Screening institutions will accept applications until March 5, and health care centers until the 19th of the same month, as facilities to establish a support system for health management of persons with disabilities at the community level. Disability-friendly health screening institutions are classified into 41 intermediate medical zones based on the composition ratio of persons with disabilities and patients by region, and 2 to 3 institutions per medical zone will be designated, aiming to open about 100 locations by 2022. This is intended to reduce the difference in screening participation rates depending on disability status and improve accessibility. The Ministry of Health and Welfare expects that services will be available sequentially from October after screening and personnel recruitment.
The health care centers plan to designate 19 locations by 2022. They are designated for a three-year term, with re-designation procedures conducted in the fourth year. Support will be provided for personnel expenses, project costs, and facility equipment costs. Kim Hyun-jun, Director of the Disability Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "Disability-friendly health screening institutions will greatly contribute to closing the gap in national health screening participation rates between persons with and without disabilities, and regional disability health care centers play an important role as coordinators of disability health projects by metropolitan area."
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