On the 24th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the “2025 Rural Visiting Bus” service, which provides medical services to rural villages, will begin on the 25th in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. This project, which started last year, provides on-site medical services to areas with relatively weaker medical infrastructure compared to urban areas, focusing on the elderly, farmers, and vulnerable populations.
Temporary clinics are set up in auditoriums or gymnasiums in rural villages, and shuttle buses operate on a schedule to help these residents easily access medical services. Last year, the program provided a variety of medical services, such as Western and Oriental medicine treatments, dental checkups, oral exams, and eye tests, to around 90,000 rural residents. This year, as part of the public welfare stabilization policy, the service is set to expand by about 60%, aiming to reach 150,000 people.
In addition to basic medical care, this year’s initiative will enhance customized services, such as dementia diagnosis and osteoporosis treatment, to cater to the predominantly elderly beneficiaries. New categories like musculoskeletal physiotherapy will also be added, offering a wider range of services than last year.
For elderly residents or those with mobility difficulties who cannot reach temporary clinics, a pilot home-visit service will be operated, where medical professionals will visit residents’ homes for examinations.
Song Mi-ryeong, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, “A healthy agriculture and rural life is essential for our future growth,” emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to actively pursue public welfare policies, including the visiting bus service, in collaboration with local governments and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation.