Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju will fully cover the cost of confirmatory tests for hepatitis C for residents aged 56. On the 21st, Gwangsan-gu announced that it would provide full support for the out-of-pocket expenses for residents who test positive for hepatitis C antibodies during the national health checkup and undergo a confirmatory (RNA) test.
Hepatitis C is a third-class infectious disease designated by law, transmitted through a patient's blood or bodily fluids, and can progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer. The support is available to those born in 1969 (aged 56 this year) who undergo the national health checkup, and applies if the confirmatory test is conducted at a nearby hospital or clinic, excluding tertiary general hospitals.
Applications can be made through 'Bojogeum24' on the Government24 portal or at the local health center, and must be submitted by the end of March of the year following the national health checkup. A Gwangsan-gu official stated, "Although there is no preventive vaccine for hepatitis C, early treatment is possible," adding, "We hope this support will promote early detection and treatment."
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