Expansion to All Medical Institutions for Residents Born in 1970
Retroactive Payment Available Until March 31
for Excluded Cases Among 1969-Born Residents Last Year
Uiseong County in North Gyeongsang Province will expand the scope of support for confirmatory test fees for hepatitis C to include general hospitals and higher-level medical institutions, in order to strengthen treatment linkage for hepatitis C, which is difficult to detect early due to its asymptomatic nature.
On January 19, Uiseong County (Governor Kim Jusoo) announced that it will expand the program supporting confirmatory test fees for residents aged 56 who test positive for hepatitis C antibodies during the National Health Screening to include general hospitals and higher-level medical institutions.
Hepatitis C is a curable infectious disease with proper treatment, but many cases progress without symptoms, making timely detection challenging. As a result, there have been ongoing calls for regionally coordinated testing and continuous management systems.
Until 2025, Uiseong County had limited support for confirmatory test fees to clinics and hospital-level medical institutions. Starting this year, the support will be expanded to include all medical institutions, including higher-level and general hospitals. The support is available to residents aged 56 (born in 1970), with a maximum amount of 70,000 KRW provided for the confirmatory test fees.
Additionally, residents aged 56 (born in 1969 as of 2025) who received a positive antibody result in the 2025 National Health Screening and underwent a confirmatory test but have not yet applied for support, or who were previously excluded because they were tested at a general hospital or higher-level institution, may apply for retroactive payment until March 31.
Applications can be submitted online via the Government24 website (by accessing the QR code). Those who have difficulty applying online may visit the Infectious Disease Management Team at Uiseong County Public Health Center for assistance. The application process is as follows: 'Government24 → Subsidy 24 → All Benefits → Hepatitis C Confirmatory Test Fee Support.'
Kim Jusoo, Governor of Uiseong County, stated, "I hope that this support for confirmatory test fees will provide practical help in linking treatment for hepatitis C patients who have been difficult to detect early due to the lack of symptoms," adding, "We will continue to promote hepatitis C prevention and strengthen management of high-risk groups through ongoing publicity and dedicated efforts."
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