South Korea passes law to prevent emergency patient transfer delays

The South Korean Cabinet has approved an amendment to the Emergency Medical Service Act aimed at preventing delays in emergency patient transfers, often referred to as ‘emergency room circling.’ Under the new system, if a suitable medical institution for a severe emergency patient cannot be quickly identified, the Central Emergency Medical Situation Room and the 119 Emergency Medical Service Management Center are authorized to designate a facility for transfer and acceptance.

To encourage hospital cooperation, the amendment provides legal immunity from criminal punishment for medical personnel who provide emergency care in life-threatening situations, provided there was no gross negligence.

Medical professionals, including Cho Jae-ho, President of Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, have noted that while the law may reduce patient transfers in regions like Gangwon Province, the effectiveness of the law remains a subject of debate. Challenges such as the migration of medical specialists to the Seoul metropolitan area and the high cost of maintaining 24-hour essential medical services continue to impact regional healthcare stability.