Health ministry adds Gwangju-Jeonnam to critical patient transfer pilot

The health ministry said Wednesday it selected the integrated Gwangju-Jeonnam region, with Chonnam National University Hospital as the implementing institution, as the second site of a pilot program that transfers critically ill patients between hospitals in ambulances staffed by medical professionals.

The program equips a dedicated ambulance with intensive-care-level medical equipment so that physicians, nurses and emergency medical technicians can move patients safely to another hospital capable of treating them. Each vehicle is about 1.5 times the size of a conventional ambulance and can carry specialized equipment including targeted temperature management devices and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines. Five teams of three — one physician and two nurses or emergency medical technicians — will operate the service.

Patients eligible for transfer are those in emergency rooms or intensive care units at emergency medical institutions and general hospitals who need specialized monitoring and treatment during transport.

The ministry cited the region's strong commitment as the reason for its selection, noting the Gwangju-Jeonnam local government has pursued a plan called "One Life Network — Zero Emergency Transfer Delays" as a key task under an integrated 100-day action plan. Chonnam National University Hospital was judged suitable as the implementing institution because it serves as a central provider of critical emergency care in the region.

"We expect the dedicated ambulances, equipped with specialist medical staff and equipment, to contribute to the safe transfer of critically ill patients and to better treatment outcomes," said Lee Jung-kyu, director of public health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The selection follows the first pilot site in Gyeonggi Province, where Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital safely transferred 628 patients with severe conditions such as acute myocardial infarction and stroke from Nov. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2026.

Lee said the ministry plans to assess the results of the pilot and extend the hospital-to-hospital transfer system for critically ill patients nationwide. Before the new site begins operations, the dedicated ambulance must be specially manufactured, medical equipment installed and onboard medical staff trained. The ministry expects the service to start in the first half of 2027.