The government will push a pilot project to innovate the emergency patient transport system. The aim is to quickly transfer severe emergency patients (pre-KTAS 1–2) to appropriate hospitals within the golden hour to reduce the "emergency room merry-go-round" and operate the emergency medical system efficiently.
But reactions in the medical field were mixed. The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine expressed hope, saying it "will serve as a catalyst for the development of the system," while the Korean Emergency Medical Association strongly pushed back, calling it "a classic armchair theory that considers the convenience of a specific occupation and political gains and losses."
On the 25th, the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine released a statement, assessing that "this pilot project began by respecting the regional emergency medical system and existing guidelines, and through communication and cooperation." It added, "We hope that the pilot project will improve problems that arise in the field and serve as an opportunity for Korea's emergency medical system to advance one step further."
However, it attached preconditions. It said that along with the government's policy push, safeguards to protect medical staff must proceed in parallel. The society said, "Please swiftly promote legal and institutional improvements through legislation in the National Assembly, such as criminal immunity in the emergency medical field and caps on civil damages," adding, "Emergency medical workers must be able to protect the public's lives and safety without legal burdens."
The Korean Emergency Medical Association, meanwhile, moved to direct criticism. The association said, "We strongly condemn the government's forced push of the transport system innovation pilot project," and added, "We will persuade members not to participate."
In a statement released the previous day, the association argued it was "a textbook case of hasty administration that even the lead ministry and on-site experts were not aware of in advance." It said the Ministry of Health and Welfare released the push plan without substantive discussion, despite promising to gather input from the field.
The association said the ministry "kept repeating in regional roundtables that 'it has already been decided, so we will implement it,' regarding the concerns of frontline medical staff."
It also argued there is no effectiveness in the government's proposed designation of "priority-admitting hospitals" and an assignment system centered on a "wide-area control room." The association said, "Designating existing emergency rooms as priority-admitting hospitals does not increase capacity," and added, "The problem does not stem from being unable to find a hospital capable of definitive treatment; it arose in the first place because there is a shortage." It further noted that "this is nothing but showcase administration that ignores reality."
Before the pilot project, the association demanded prior steps including: ▲ the definition of the "emergency room merry-go-round" and a nationwide fact-finding survey ▲ agreement with frontline medical staff on goals and policy direction ▲ preparation of detailed execution plans, evaluation systems, a dedicated organization, and a budget ▲ measures to protect and support participating medical staff ▲ the formation of a body to evaluate outcomes and discuss policy improvements.
The association said, "The government's unilateral pilot project that ignores the field will only accelerate the collapse of the emergency medical system," and added, "If it railroades the plan while ignoring expert warnings, all confusion and responsibility that arise lie with the government."