The death of pop icon Michael Jackson has led to unexpected criticism of China's emergency medical system.

Netizens praised the American 911 dispatcher who handled the Jackson emergency call and criticized differences between the Chinese and American emergency services on popular Internet portals Sohu.com and Sina.com, as well as on provincial level websites like Hainan-based club.kdnet.net.

"China's emergency medical service is not as careful as its American counterpart," Zhang Han, a Beijing blogger, wrote on his blog on Sina.com.

"The Chinese emergency medical sector should learn from the American emergency medical experience to better serve its citizens."

In a transcript released of the 911 call, the cool-headed operator asks Jackson's age, address and condition and then instructs the caller to put the singer on the floor and pump his chest.

"From their conversation, I can see American medical staffs' devoted attitude to the job and their expertise," a netizen tagged Xiaohe1120 said on club.kdnet.net.

Zhang Weihong, from central Shanxi province, said that she was dissatisfied with the emergency 120 service after calling an ambulance for her husband when he collapsed suddenly a few weeks ago.

The ambulance came 10 minutes later but only a driver and a doctor were on board. She was forced to ask neighbors to help carry the stretcher to the ambulance.

"I hope the government can improve emergency medical service in the future," she said.

Li Jianren, a doctor with Beijing Emergency Medical Center (BEMC), said that China should adopt the US system, in which non-professional emergency staff are on hand to assist the patient.

"North American countries have an emergency medical personnel accreditation system, which we don't have," Li said.

In many foreign countries, social workers also would be sent to the site of the accident to help victims' families, he added.

China gradually established the emergency 120 system after the reform and opening up in 1978.

According to the national standard, an ambulance sent from a medical center with emergency care is usually equipped with a patient monitor, simplified breathing apparatus, defibrillator, electrocardiograph and transfusion apparatus, said Lu Chuanzhu, vice-chairman of emergency medical center branch of Chinese Hospital Association.

But many smaller cities and towns cannot equip their ambulances with all of this medical equipment.

"Presently, the biggest problem is rural residents do not have the same emergency medical service as urban residents," he said.

(China Daily June 30, 2009)