The discrepancy between the data reported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Fire Agency highlights serious coordination issues in South Korea's emergency medical services. According to a report, the Fire Agency recorded 701 requests from emergency responders to the central emergency management system from January to September of last year, while the Ministry reported 1,309 requests for the same period, nearly double the number reported by the Fire Agency. This variance in data raises concerns about the effectiveness of the current emergency transport system, especially as reforms are underway to address issues related to emergency room overcrowding.

With the government pushing for reforms to streamline the transport of severely ill patients, the lack of unified data collection between the two critical agencies, the Fire Agency and the National Central Medical Center, is problematic. The introduction of the emergency management system aims to enhance the allocation of resources and improve patient outcomes by centralizing emergency hospital transfers. However, the effectiveness of this new system is jeopardized by the inability of the agencies to agree on basic data regarding patient transfers and hospital assignments, critical information required for effective decision-making and operational planning.

As the central emergency management system prepares to take on its expanded role starting May 2024, the need for collaboration between the Fire Agency and the National Central Medical Center is more crucial than ever. Without consistent and accurate data, it remains difficult to assess how many patients are being referred effectively and how many needs remain unresolved. The ongoing divergence in statistics between these two organizations signifies a critical flaw in the country’s emergency health infrastructure that needs immediate attention to ensure efficient patient care and enhance the overall effectiveness of the emergency response system.