South Korea to share medical images via QR codes next year

South Korea is set to implement a new system by the first half of next year allowing patients to share medical images, such as CT and MRI scans, between hospitals using QR codes. This initiative by the Ministry of Health and Welfare aims to alleviate the burden on patients who often have to undergo repeat imaging when changing medical facilities, thereby reducing both patient costs and redundant use of expensive medical equipment.

Currently, a significant number of patients face this issue. Data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service shows that in the past year, over 250,000 out of nearly one million patients who visited another hospital within 30 days of their initial CT scan had to undergo the procedure again. This represents more than one in four patients, with the rate of repeat scans steadily increasing year by year.

In addition to the QR code system, a service utilizing AI technology to provide real-time access to a patient's previous imaging history will be introduced in December. Officials believe that once the medical image sharing system is established, it will not only lower healthcare costs for individuals but also significantly curb the financial drain on the national health insurance system caused by unnecessary high-value equipment usage.