Pregnant Woman and Fetus in ER Rotation 'Stable'... Finger Amputation Patient Surgery Completed

Emergency Medical and Urgent Care Response Briefing
Government: "Medical Reform Can No Longer Be Delayed"

The government announced that both the mother and fetus are currently stable after a 25-week pregnant woman in a critical condition in Cheongju, Chungbuk. A patient whose finger was amputated in Gwangju was transferred to a hospital in Jeonju and underwent replantation surgery.

On the 18th, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, explained emergency medical cases that occurred during the holiday period during a briefing on emergency medical and urgent care response.

Earlier, on the 14th in Cheongju, Chungbuk, a 25-week pregnant woman had to visit a hospital due to amniotic fluid leakage, but it was reported that she received treatment only after 6 hours of being refused by 75 hospitals.

Minister Cho stated, "Preterm delivery within 25 weeks is a high-risk procedure, and there are not many medical institutions nationwide capable of providing treatment and protection for newborns," adding, "We operate 20 integrated treatment centers for high-risk mothers and newborns even during normal times." He also added that both the mother and fetus are currently in stable condition.

In the case of the patient whose finger was amputated in Gwangju on the 15th, four medical institutions in Gwangju refused admission, and the patient was transferred to Jeonju before surgery could be performed.

Minister Cho explained, "Surgery performed when fingers are amputated is a specialized field available only at some hospitals, including five specialized replantation hospitals nationwide," adding, "Even during normal times, replantation surgeries are often transferred to specialized hospitals capable of performing surgery beyond city and provincial boundaries rather than nearby general hospitals. Therefore, a list of hospitals capable of performing surgery was shared in advance between the metropolitan emergency medical situation room and the Fire Agency during the Chuseok holiday."

Minister Cho said, "We assume there were great concerns about medical use during this Chuseok holiday," adding, "However, thanks to the medical staff who gave up their holidays and steadfastly stayed by the patients' side, emergency medical care was maintained, and with the cooperation of the public, emergency rooms were able to focus on treating severe patients with fewer medical personnel than usual."

The government also reiterated its commitment to medical reform and urged the medical community to come to the table with reasonable alternatives regarding medical school quotas and reform tasks.

Minister Cho pointed out, "The shortage of essential medical services such as high-risk deliveries, newborn protection, and replantation surgeries that occurred during this Chuseok holiday is not a newly emerged problem caused by the departure of residents but a problem that has existed before," emphasizing, "Medical reform is aimed at comprehensively solving the structural and fundamental problems accumulated in our medical system."

He continued, "Medical reform is a task that can no longer be postponed and should not be delayed," and "We once again request the medical community to promptly participate in the ruling and opposition party medical council."