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Collaborate with Partners

  • Double Reading Program for Foreign Workers (E-9 Visa Holders)

    Background

    • - All 16 countries* that signed the MOU on Korean Employment Permit System (EPS) belong to the list of TB high-risk countries designated by the Ministry of Justice of Korea. In this context, with the aim of preventing the influx of TB patients, health check-ups for foreign workers (E-9 Visa Holders) from the 16 countries have been conducted at designated local medical institutions before entering the country.

      * 16 EPS countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

    • - However, there have been steady cases of repatriation as the foreign workers were found to have tuberculosis even after they entered Korea. Therefore, a double reading of tuberculosis has been conducted before entering the country in order to prevent the imported TB cases and improve the health safety of industrial sites in Korea.

    Overall Process

    • - By introducing a double reading system in the 16 countries under the Korean Employment Permit System (EPS), Chest X-Ray (CXR) images taken by designated local medical institutions are double-checked by specialized institutions in Korea, and the foreign workers allowed to enter the country only if the results of both local and domestic readings are negative.
    • - Based on our follow-up system, foreign workers (E-9 Visa Holders) who have been confirmed to have tuberculosis after entering Korea are repatriated to their home country when the treatment for negative conversion is completed, and workers who have received medical opinions other than tuberculosis are handed over to vocational education institutions.
    • - In addition, tuberculosis prevention education is provided to workers who have signed labor contracts to foster employment skills and induce their early adaptation while entering domestic employment training institutions.

    History and Progress

    2016 Korean National Tuberculosis Association (KNTA) and Human Resources Development Korea (HRDK) signed MOU for TB control among foreign workers (E-9 holders)
    2018 Double reading system was introduced in Nepal, Indonesia, and Myanmar as a pilot program after consultation with HRDK
    2019 Double reading system was introduced in Mongolia, Cambodia, and Bangladesh after signing MOU with HRDK and Masan National Tuberculosis Hospital
    2022~2025 Double reading system will be entirely inspected in the existing six countries and will be newly introduced in the other ten countries so that all the 16 countries implement the system by 2025

    Operating Process of Double Reading System

    Follow-up Program for Confirmed Cases among Foreign Workers (E-9 Visa Holders) after Entry to Korea

    Targets and Overall Process

    • - Of the foreign workers (E-9 Visa Holders), including general and re-entry workers from the 16 countries under the Korean Employment Permit System (EPS), confirmed cases of active tuberculosis, found through the first and second health check-ups at vocational education institutions, are the program targets.
    • - Once the worker is found to be a confirmed case of tuberculosis, he/she is transferred to a government-affiliated hospital, treated for negative conversion, and repatriated to his/her home country after the treatment is completed.
    • - Subject to follow-up management: Workers with confirmed tuberculosis from 16 countries of the Employment Permit System

    Process Flow

    Phase 1 Notify HRDK and the vocational education institution of the incidence of a confirmed case
    Phase 2 Inform the employer and related institutions of the case
    Phase 3 Transfer the patient to the government-affiliated hospital
    Phase 4 Offer him/her treatment for negative conversion
    Phase 5 Transfer him/her to the Incheon airport after completing the treatment
    Phase 6 Repatriate him/her to their home country (Support the departure procedure)

  • TB Management, Treatment Support, and Patient-Facility Link Services for Vulnerable Groups

    01Operating a joint program 'STOP-TB CONNECT' with Partners

    Medical support, such as health examinations, for the homeless and foreigners residing in Korea, and the elderly with a high prevalence of TB
    • ▶Support TB screening (for chest X-ray), blood test, vaccination, etc.
    Assist presumptive TB found during medical check-ups with further in-depth examinations, inpatient treatment, and housing and living, and support for other non-compliant patient management
    • ▶Follow-up management of TB patients among foreign workers entering Korea (support for medical examinations in and checking into a TB specialized hospital)
    • ▶Support their admission to facilities responsible for managing TB patients('Miso Healing' center and other patient shelters)
    • ▶Support management of non-compliant patients(with alcoholic, mental disorder, and etc.)
    Financial support for medical examination/treatment for TB patients in economically poor conditions and medication support to raise the treatment success rate
    • ▶Support for test and treatment expenses for the vulnerable (incl. TB aftermath)
    • ▶Provide TB patients among seniors and the North Korean defectors with DOT incentives (in kind, gift certificates, etc.)
    • ▶Offer youth TB patients an incentive for complete recovery
    Management of various support programs for TB patients to help them with normal rehabilitation after complete recovery
    • ▶Provide TB patients with social adjustment program before complete recovery (providing short-term work and study program)
    • ▶Operate a joint employment linkage program with partners
    • ▶Help foreign TB patients return to their home country

    Non-compliant TB Patient Management Process