The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said Saturday that Vice Minister Kang Yoon-jin will inspect on the 29th the operation of free health checkups for national merit recipients being conducted at the Gyeonggi branch of the Korea Association of Health Promotion in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.
The visit aims to review the operational status of the free health checkup program being carried out to mark the Month of Patriots and Veterans, and to strengthen recognition and health support for national merit recipients who sacrificed and devoted themselves for the country.
Kang will receive a briefing on the progress of the free health checkups from officials of the Korea Association of Health Promotion and will present merit awards to association officials who contributed to improving the health of national merit recipients and spreading veterans affairs culture.
Afterward, she plans to tour the health checkup center to inspect the examination process and user convenience, and to personally meet national merit recipients undergoing checkups on site, checking on their health conditions and conveying her gratitude.
The ministry has conducted the free health checkup program annually since 2002 through cooperation with the Korea Association of Health Promotion. Through last year, a total of about 146,000 national veterans affairs beneficiaries and their families have received the benefits.
This year, free health checkups are being provided to about 10,000 people at 17 branches nationwide, covering 67 items in 16 categories (worth 180,000 won per person), including blood and urine tests, liver function, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer-related examinations.
"The ministry will continue to further strengthen public-private cooperation, including with the Korea Association of Health Promotion, and do its best to improve the health and medical welfare of national merit recipients and veterans families," Vice Minister Kang said.
