The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on Jan. 18 that its specialized emergency transport systems, including medical helicopters and mobile intensive care units, transported 1,414 critically ill or injured patients last year, improving survival rates by enabling rapid treatment.
The services target patients suffering severe trauma or heart conditions, particularly in areas where access to hospitals is limited. Doctor Helicopters, which carry medical specialists capable of performing emergency procedures during flight, are mainly deployed in mountainous regions and on remote islands. In 2025, eight helicopters transported 1,075 patients, including 515 with severe traumatic injuries. Since the program began in 2011, the helicopters have transported 16,057 people.
To further strengthen emergency response, the government launched pilot operations of doctor-staffed mobile intensive care units in Gyeonggi Province in late 2024. Operated by Hallym University Medical Center, the units maintain a 24-hour medical team and transferred 339 critical patients last year.
A ministry official said the government plans to add one more medical helicopter and a specialized ambulance this year. Two smaller helicopters will also be replaced with medium-sized models to expand capacity and improve efficiency.