Enforcement Decree of the 119 Act Amendment to Take Effect from the 21st... Strengthening Infectious Disease Response System

Establishing Legal Basis for Medical Consultation and Emergency Medical Services for Overseas Koreans
Reflecting the 119 Act, Increasing Fine for False Reports to 5 Million Won in Enforcement Decree

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Fire Agency announced on the 20th that the amendment to the 'Enforcement Decree of the Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services,' which adds the obligation to report the transport of infectious disease patients to the scope of work of the 119 Emergency Situation Management Center and establishes emergency medical services for overseas Koreans, will be promulgated and enforced on the 21st.

The amendment to the 119 Act, effective from the 21st, adds the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) as an institution obligated to report infectious diseases and includes suspected infectious disease patients as subjects of notification. Additionally, it mandates the use of information systems as the method of notification.

According to the amendment to the 119 Act Enforcement Decree, the head of the KDCA and the heads of medical institutions must immediately notify relevant matters related to infectious disease patients transported by the 119 emergency medical team. The notification subjects include 20 types of infectious diseases as specified in the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, with the possibility of additional designations through consultations with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the KDCA.

The KDCA is required to notify the Fire Agency through the information system, while medical institutions must notify the Fire Agency or Fire Headquarters of infectious disease occurrences using one of the following methods: information system, written document, fax, oral communication, or telephone.

The amendment also adds the reporting and dissemination of important matters concerning infectious disease patients and overseas Korean medical consultation services to the scope of work of the 119 Emergency Situation Management Center. The Fire Agency's 119 Emergency Situation Management Center must promptly disseminate and report the condition and transport details of infectious disease patients to emergency medical personnel, transport medical institutions, and relevant health centers.

Furthermore, the amendment establishes the basis for medical consultation and emergency medical services for overseas Koreans, seafarers in territorial and international waters, and aircraft crew and passengers. The overseas Korean emergency medical service allows overseas Koreans to receive emergency medical consultations anytime and anywhere. Since November 2018, the Fire Agency has provided emergency medical consultations to overseas travelers and maritime workers. Although previously implemented based on administrative rules, the amendment incorporates the scope of emergency medical service recipients and the range of life-saving support into the enforcement decree.

Meanwhile, reflecting the increase in fines from 2 million KRW to 5 million KRW for falsely reporting that a rescue target is in an emergency situation to fire agencies or related administrative agencies under the 119 Act, the enforcement decree also raises the fine amounts per violation to match those imposed under the Enforcement Decree of the Fire Services Act for false reports.

For the aviation unit operating fire helicopters, which was previously generally called the aviation rescue emergency medical team, the name was changed to '119 Aviation Unit' following the amendment of the 119 Act in October. The definition of aviation unit personnel was newly established, and these changes were reflected in the enforcement decree as well.

A Fire Agency official stated, "Through this amendment to the enforcement decree, 119 emergency medical personnel will be able to acquire and disseminate information on major infectious diseases early, preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as secondary infections, and it will greatly help in transporting emergency patients quickly and safely."