South Korean medical groups oppose national health screening reforms

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine and the Korean Society of Health Screening have issued a joint statement demanding an immediate halt to the government's plan to expand specimen test outsourcing reforms to include national health screenings.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare intends to align national health screening specimen testing with existing reforms for health insurance benefit tests. This includes amending regulations to allow test fees to be paid directly to outsourced institutions and developing new computer systems.

Medical groups argue that the reform fails to account for the unique nature of national screenings. They contend that primary care clinics bear significant costs for specimen management—including centrifugation, cold storage, infection control, and transportation—as well as medical judgment and follow-up care. Without adequate compensation for these administrative and operational burdens, the groups warn that the financial strain could weaken the primary care infrastructure and negatively impact public health quality.