South Korea considers mandatory reporting for clinic-level patient safety accidents

The South Korean government is considering expanding mandatory reporting requirements for serious patient safety accidents to include clinic-level medical institutions. Currently, only hospitals with 100 or more beds and general hospitals with 200 or more beds are legally required to report major incidents to the Korea Patient Safety Reporting and Learning System (KOPS).

The proposal follows revelations during a National Assembly audit regarding a dental clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, where two patients died during sleep anesthesia procedures within seven months. In both instances, the deaths were not reported through the official safety system, and authorities only became aware of the incidents through media reports.

Lawmakers have criticized the current system for creating a blind spot, arguing that the severity of patient harm should dictate reporting requirements rather than the size of the facility. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has expressed openness to reviewing improvements to the reporting system, including ways to better identify and intervene in cases of repeated accidents at specific institutions.