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South Korea to launch AI‑driven QR system for sharing CT/MRI scans
The South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a plan to curb duplicate CT and MRI examinations by introducing an AI‑based service that will allow medical facilities to check a patient’s imaging history in real time starting in December 2023. A QR‑code system that lets patients transmit existing CT or MRI images to any hospital will be built and operational by the first half of 2027.
In 2025, 944,172 patients who had a CT scan visited another hospital within 30 days; 26.8% (about 253,400) underwent a repeat CT scan. The same year, 224,894 patients who had an MRI visited another hospital within 30 days; 13.8% (about 39,400) received a repeat MRI. The duplicated CT scans cost the national health insurance 491.5 billion won and the duplicated MRIs 159 billion won, totaling roughly 650 billion won in avoidable expenses.
Officials expect the AI‑driven history check and QR‑code sharing platform to reduce unnecessary imaging, lower patient burden, and save health‑insurance funds, while clinicians note that repeat scans may still be required in certain clinical situations.
Entities
Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service · Ministry of Health and Welfare (South Korea) · South Korean government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the AI and QR‑code imaging initiative in its 2026 second‑half work plan. www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.seoul.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] A QR‑code based medical imaging sharing system will be built and become operational by the first half of 2027. www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.seoul.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025, 224,894 patients who had an MRI scan visited another hospital within 30 days, and 13.8% (about 39,400) underwent a repeat MRI scan. www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.seoul.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025, 944,172 patients who had a CT scan visited another hospital within 30 days, and 26.8% (about 253,400) underwent a repeat CT scan. www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.seoul.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Medical institutions in South Korea will start using AI to verify patients' CT/MRI histories in real time beginning December 2023. www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.seoul.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Duplicate CT scans cost the national health insurance 491.5 billion won in 2025; duplicate MRI scans cost 159 billion won, totaling roughly 650 billion won. www.imaeil.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.seoul.co.kr