President Lee Orders Measures to Resolve "Emergency Room Ping-Pong" Issue

Criticizing the Reality of a Non-Functioning Reporting System

President Lee Jae-myung has called for proactive measures to resolve the issue of "emergency room ping-pong," where patients are unable to find an emergency room for treatment and are left wandering on the streets.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety briefing held on the 16th at the Government Sejong Convention Center. Photo by Yonhap News

At the Ministry of Health and Welfare briefing held at the Sejong Convention Center in Sejong City on the 16th, President Lee stated, "There are people dying inside 119 ambulances because of emergency room ping-pong. In the past, hospitals were not allowed to refuse treatment, but now there are even stories of patients having to go to other cities because they cannot find a hospital," raising concern over the issue.

President Lee then questioned, "Isn't it true that hospitals are better equipped to provide treatment than 119 paramedics or family members? Shouldn't it be standard practice to at least provide emergency care and then arrange a transfer to another hospital?"

In response, Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong explained, "The system of calling emergency rooms to distribute patients was implemented due to emergency room overcrowding," adding, "If final treatment cannot be provided, it inevitably creates a bottleneck somewhere in the system."

President Lee further pressed for solutions, saying, "Isn't the current system functioning not as a positive mechanism, but rather as one that rejects emergency patients?" To this, Minister Jeong replied, "It is important to establish a control tower and regional situation rooms to match patients with hospitals."

President Lee then pointed out, "Although a system has been put in place, the reality is that parts of it are not functioning. Patients are still being transported around in ambulances without receiving care," and instructed that countermeasures be prepared and separately reported at a Cabinet meeting.