Why Korean mothers face 300-km journeys just to give birth

South Korea is facing serious problems in its emergency maternal care system, especially for women with high-risk pregnancies. Many pregnant women are being sent far away from their hometowns because nearby hospitals do not have enough specialists or intensive care beds for newborn babies. Some women have even traveled hundreds of kilometers by ambulance or helicopter to find medical help.

One recent case involved a woman who was 29 weeks pregnant in Cheongju. Many hospitals in her area refused to accept her because they lacked doctors and neonatal intensive care unit beds. She was finally transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Busan, more than three hours away, but sadly, her baby died after arriving at the hospital.

Another woman, who was 26 weeks pregnant and suffering from high blood pressure, also had difficulty finding treatment. More than 50 hospitals refused to admit her before she was transported almost 300 kilometers from Sejong to Busan. Similar incidents have happened in other parts of the country, including Daegu, where one twin baby died and the other suffered brain damage after delays in receiving care.

Experts say these incidents are caused by deeper problems in South Korea’s healthcare system. High-risk pregnancies require special doctors and advanced medical equipment, but these resources are mostly located in large cities like Seoul. In many regions, there are not enough obstetricians, and some hospitals are unable to handle emergency deliveries. Because hospitals decide individually whether they can accept patients, emergency workers often lose valuable time contacting hospitals one by one.

Government officials and medical experts are now calling for major reforms. They want a centralized system that can quickly connect patients with available hospitals and improve coordination between emergency services and healthcare centers. Health Minister Jung Eun-kyeong promised to improve maternal and neonatal care so pregnant women can safely give birth anywhere in the country.

Edited using generative AI tools.
Source : https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10730979

Comprehension

Why are some pregnant women in South Korea being transferred long distances?
What happened to the woman who was transferred from Cheongju to Busan?
What does the term “medical wandering” mean?
Why do experts say the maternal care system has serious problems?
What changes did the government promise to make?

Discussion

Why is quick medical treatment important for high-risk pregnancies?
How do you think long travel times affect pregnant women and their families?
Should governments provide equal healthcare services in all regions? Why or why not?
What problems can happen when hospitals are overcrowded or understaffed?
How can technology help improve emergency medical care?
What are some ways to encourage more doctors to work outside large cities?
How would you feel if you had to travel far away during a medical emergency?
What responsibilities do hospitals and governments have in protecting mothers and babies?

Vocabulary

High-risk pregnancy – a pregnancy with greater health dangers for the mother or baby
Obstetrician – a doctor who cares for pregnant women and delivers babies
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) – a special hospital unit for sick or premature newborn babies
Specialist – a doctor with advanced training in a specific area of medicine
Transfer – to move a patient from one hospital to another
Maternal care – healthcare for pregnant women and mothers
Coordination – organized cooperation between people or groups
Disparities – differences or inequalities between groups or regions