Introduction of National Examination for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease...Starting next year, lung function tests for 56 and 66 years old

Sep 19, 2025

Introduction of National Examination for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease...Starting next year, lung function tests for 56 and 66 years old
Image=National Institute of Health



Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which chronic inflammation of the lungs and airways occurs mainly due to long-term smoking, air pollution, inhalation of harmful gases or fine dust, which causes airflow restrictions (a phenomenon in which air does not escape properly when exhaled).

As a major respiratory chronic disease, the prevalence rate is as high as 12%, but the awareness of the disease is as low as 2.3%, and there are no symptoms in the early stages, so the need for early detection through the introduction of national examination items has been raised.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 18th that citizens aged 56 and 66 will undergo lung function tests from next year due to the resolution of the first National Health Examination Committee in 2025.




The introduction of national health screening for lung function tests is expected to contribute to the prevention of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in connection with follow-up management systems such as providing smoking cessation services and health care programs after early detection of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Meanwhile, the committee decided to add glycated hemoglobin tests for confirming dyslipidemia and diabetes to the out-of-pocket exemption after the examination. Currently, those suspected of high blood pressure, diabetes, pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis C, depression, and early psychiatric diseases are exempted from out-of-pocket expenses such as examination fees and examination fees for visiting medical institutions for the first time since the examination. In the case of suspected diabetes patients, they are currently exempt from out-of-pocket expenses only for examination fees and fasting blood glucose tests for the first time, but according to this decision, out-of-pocket expenses are also exempted for glycated hemoglobin tests.

The issues decided by this committee are planned to be applied from January next year after follow-up work such as reorganizing the related system and revising the 「Health Examination Implementation Criteria」 during the second half of this year.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.