Senior citizens in HCM City got free health checks at the Ward 9 health station District 8 in August last year. —VNA/VNS Photo

Seniors are now entitled to get free annual checks at general clinics, medical centres, and grade 2 and grade 1 hospitals, according to the Department of Health.

Previously, they could only get checked at local health stations. 

The move aims to manage the treatment of non-communicable diseases among them and create electronic health records, the department said.

They will be examined and get a blood test and abdominal ultrasound test.

The city has over one million people aged 60 or above.

Last year only 329,330 of them got free health check-ups.

It was found that 61.6 per cent had high blood pressure and 25.6 per cent possibly had diabetes, according to the department. —VNS