TAIPEI: The Ministry of Health and Welfare has called on individuals aged 30 to 39 to participate in the newly expanded free National Health Insurance (NHI) checkups. Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan emphasized the importance of early detection of health risks, such as hyperglycemia, which can encourage lifestyle changes and potentially delay chronic diseases.

According to Focus Taiwan, Health Minister Chiu highlighted that chronic diseases are responsible for 60 percent of deaths in Taiwan. He stressed the significance of reducing these illnesses to increase the average life expectancy. Since January 1, approximately 3.2 million people aged 30-39 enrolled in Taiwan's NHI program are eligible for a free health checkup every five years. The initiative also includes checkups every three years for those aged 40-64 and annually for individuals over 65.

Hu Yi-chun, section chief of the Health Promotion Administration's Aging and Chronic Disease Control Division, stated that the checkups are available at over 6,000 NHI-contracted institutions nationwide. The Health Promotion Administration noted that surveys indicate a concerning prevalence of the "three highs" among the 30 to 39 age group, with 9.7 percent experiencing high blood pressure, 2.5 percent high blood sugar, and 18.7 percent high cholesterol. This prompted the expansion of the program to mitigate health risks in this demographic.

The free health checkups cover a range of tests, including blood and urine tests, targeting six common health risks. These include the "three highs" and elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, which can be linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease and kidney disease, as stated by the Health Promotion Administration.