The Government to Manage Student Health Screenings... AI-Based Disease Prediction and Imaging Analysis Introduced

Ministry of Health and Welfare Finalizes 4th National Health Screening Comprehensive Plan

Establishing a Life-Cycle Screening System

Student Health Screenings to Be Entrusted to NHIS from Next Year

Expansion of Lung Cancer Screenings and Introduction of Colonoscopy Under Review

The government has announced plans to incorporate student health screenings into the national health screening system, and to establish a "life-cycle health screening" framework that connects and manages health information from infancy through old age. By introducing disease risk prediction and exam result explanations using artificial intelligence (AI), as well as health coaching services, the government aims to transform national health screenings from simple disease detection into a lifelong health management platform.

On June 30, the Ministry of Health and Welfare finalized and announced the "4th National Health Screening Comprehensive Plan (2026–2030)" after deliberation and approval by the National Health Screening Committee.

The National Health Screening Comprehensive Plan is a government-wide master plan established every five years under the Basic Health Screening Act to protect and promote public health through national screenings. Since 2011, it has set the policy direction for the government’s national health screening initiatives.

The most significant change in this plan is the integrated management of student health screenings within the national screening framework. Starting next year, the government will fully entrust student health screenings to the National Health Insurance Service, allowing students and parents to choose their preferred screening institution. It also plans to establish an information linkage system to systematically manage data on screening participants and their results.

As a result, all health information—from infant screenings, to student, adult, and senior screenings—will be managed within a single national system. Based on this, the government intends to establish a lifelong health screening cohort for disease risk prediction and evidence-based health policy development.

For student screenings, education and counseling on health risk factors during adolescence, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use, will be expanded. Chest X-rays will be converted to a risk-group targeted screening method. To enable early detection of childhood obesity, blood tests will be expanded from only obese students to include overweight students as well.

AI and digital technologies will be adopted throughout the entire national health screening process. In the pre-screening stage, health insurance and medical utilization data will be used to predict disease occurrence. During the screening, AI-powered image reading support systems will be utilized to improve diagnostic accuracy. After screenings, generative AI-based personalized result explanations and AI health coaching services will be provided.

Notably, the government plans to use AI characters to visually demonstrate changes before and after health management, and to provide advanced, personalized services such as predictions of future disease risk and "health age" based on individuals’ health and medical information. A feature for sharing health information among family members will also be introduced to support joint health management of children and parents.

<4th National Health Screening Comprehensive Plan Performance Indicators by Implementation Strategy>

A major overhaul of national screening items is also anticipated. The government has decided to review only those diseases that constitute "major health issues"—as determined by prevalence, mortality, and disease burden—for inclusion as national screening items. Existing items will be regularly re-evaluated, and those lacking sufficient evidence will be adjusted or removed.

Conversely, screenings deemed increasingly necessary will be expanded. The target population for national lung cancer screenings will be widened, and colonoscopy will be newly introduced to national colorectal cancer screening, which is currently based on fecal occult blood tests. Reflecting the revised colorectal cancer screening guidelines from last year, the government is considering including decennial colonoscopy screenings for adults aged 45 to 74.

Grip strength tests will be newly added to senior health screenings. In addition to the current focus on fall risk assessments in physical function evaluations for seniors, upper extremity function will also be assessed, and the screening interval will be adjusted to every two years.

The post-screening management system will also be strengthened. Currently, the rates at which general health screenings lead to actual medical treatment remain at 22.7% for hypertension, 39.1% for diabetes, and 34% for dyslipidemia. Accordingly, a new "treatment linkage rate" will be introduced into screening institution evaluation indicators, and follow-up consultations will be institutionalized to ensure that screening results lead to actual treatment and changes in health behaviors.

Furthermore, the government will begin an objective assessment of private health screenings, which have faced ongoing concerns about excessive testing. The scientific validity of frequently performed private screening items will be evaluated and the results will be released to the public. The government also plans to establish private screening guidelines that reflect health risk factors by gender and age group.

Lee Hyunhoon, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "With this comprehensive plan, we expect health screenings to become the starting point for lifelong health management encompassing the entire life cycle, and to advance into a system that connects screenings with post-examination management. We will provide more accurate and convenient health screening services by reviewing screening items based on scientific evidence and utilizing AI technologies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.