A man with developmental disabilities, identified as Mr. A, paced back and forth along a hospital corridor without pause, his eyes fixed on the far end. His mother, trying to make eye contact, held his hand tightly and whispered, “It’ll be over soon. Give me a hug.” Mr. A, who has developmental disabilities, grew anxious ahead of his health screening.

On the morning of September 4, Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, cleared out its entire second-floor health screening center to serve only patients with disabilities. Sixteen people with disabilities and 11 guardians from three local welfare centers visited the hospital. It was the first time in Korea that a hospital suspended all general screenings to dedicate its facilities solely to people with disabilities and their caregivers. The participants had been preselected by the Purme Foundation, which screened applicants to ensure they could undergo tests without undue difficulty. On August 21, the welfare centers had prepared them in advance by familiarizing them with the hospital environment and rehearsing necessary steps such as “holding breath” and “exhaling.”

Even basic exams like measuring weight, height, vision, and blood pressure took several times longer than usual. When a nurse drew blood from Mr. B, who has an intellectual disability, another nurse gently held his arm while a third encouraged him, saying, “You’re doing so well, please stay still.” Mr. B smiled and replied, “I’m brave, aren’t I? Please give me a round of applause.” The room quickly filled with clapping.

The hospital mobilized its director, six doctors, and 30 nurses for the screenings. To make the process as comfortable as possible, patient routes were separated from those of non-disabled visitors. Blood tests were followed immediately by endoscopies to avoid multiple needle sticks. Shim Jung-ok, deputy head of the health screening center, explained, “We pay particular attention to preventing falls, as patients sometimes wake up startled from sedation.”

Still, not every test could be completed despite the staff’s best efforts. Mr. A, who had shown signs of distress, was ultimately unable to undergo an X-ray. His father said, “We didn’t expect him to complete every test. We just wanted him to get through the basics, and we’re grateful the hospital made this possible.” In the past, when tests with non-disabled patients ran overtime, complaints would arise. But, on this day, there was no such concern.

Outside of special initiatives like this, access to health screenings for people with disabilities remains limited. Under Ministry of Health and Welfare regulations, hospitals must have nine pieces of essential equipment, including wheelchair-accessible scales and portable electric lifts, to conduct disability screenings. Nationwide, only 21 hospitals meet the requirements. In Seoul, only Seoul Medical Center and the National Rehabilitation Center are equipped. There are none in South Chungcheong Province, North Jeolla Province, Ulsan, Sejong, Daegu, or Gwangju.

The lack of screening opportunities contributes to higher mortality rates among people with disabilities. In 2023, the average national life expectancy was 83.5 years, compared to just 57.8 years for people with intellectual disabilities and 28.1 years for those with autism spectrum disorders. Screening participation rates are also far lower, 54.8 percent for people with intellectual disabilities, 44.1 percent for those with mental disorders, and 52 percent for those with autism spectrum disorders, compared to 75.9 percent nationwide.

Around midday, after the screenings concluded, Lee, the hospital’s director said, “Unless we detect major problems, Seoul Medical Center plans to continue offering simultaneous screenings for people with disabilities and their guardians next year. We hope many other hospitals will join us in this effort.”