South Korea disability health voucher usage falls below 1%

The customized health screening voucher program for people with disabilities, designed to support annual examinations for hypertension and diabetes, is facing criticism for its ineffective implementation. Data released by National Assembly member Seo Mi-hwa reveals that the monthly usage rate of the voucher has consistently remained below 1% since its introduction in September 2021.

In August 2024, only 49 individuals utilized the voucher out of 11,621 registered persons under the health primary care pilot program, representing a usage rate of just 0.42%. The program shows significant regional disparities; approximately 80.4% of all cumulative users are concentrated in Seoul, Jeonbuk, and Chungbuk. Conversely, several regions, including Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju, reported zero users.

A primary issue identified is the government's inability to track eligible recipients. The Ministry of Health and Welfare does not separately manage the hypertension or diabetes status of registered individuals, meaning the system only identifies eligible users when they visit a clinic and are recommended for testing. Critics argue that the government must transition from a passive system to an active one by directly identifying and notifying eligible individuals, providing transportation support, and expanding medical infrastructure in underserved areas.