Gyeonggi Province to Provide 1.7 Billion Won to Four Regional Maternal and Neonatal Centers for "Maternal Care and Intensive Neonatal Treatment"

Gyeonggi Province will provide 1.7 billion won to four regional maternal and neonatal medical centers (high-risk maternal and neonatal integrated care centers) in the province to strengthen intensive care for high-risk mothers and newborns.

Gyeonggi Province will first allocate 1.3 billion won to additional allowances for obstetric specialists and the recruitment of new personnel, in order to maintain stable operations at the regional maternal and neonatal medical centers and prevent the departure of obstetricians who provide care for high-risk mothers. In addition, 400 million won has been earmarked for allowances for pediatric specialists dedicated to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Currently, regional maternal and neonatal medical centers are operated at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Ajou University Hospital, Korea University Ansan Hospital, and National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital in Gyeonggi Province.

Separately, Gyeonggi Province will also establish a regional cooperative care system for high-risk mothers and newborns.

Recently, Gyeonggi Province applied for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's "Maternal and Neonatal Medical Cooperative Care Health Insurance Pilot Project." On April 25, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Ajou University Hospital were selected as representative institutions for the southern region, while National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital was chosen for the northern region.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

The selected network consists of three representative institutions, seven critical care institutions, and 33 local delivery institutions. From the end of this month until December 2027, the network will establish a cooperative care system for high-risk mothers and newborns, with differential reimbursement rates provided to each institution.

In addition, since 2021, Gyeonggi Province has supported operational expenses for Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Pocheon Hospital as part of a project to support obstetrics and gynecology departments in areas vulnerable to childbirth. This has improved access to delivery services in Pocheon City and other nearby underserved regions.

Yoo Youngcheol, Director of the Health and Wellness Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "While the number of births is decreasing, the proportion of high-risk deliveries continues to rise. We will work to expand the infrastructure for high-risk deliveries and strengthen cooperation among delivery institutions to ensure that high-risk mothers and newborns in the province can receive safe and timely care."

Meanwhile, compared to ten years ago, the number of births in Gyeonggi Province has decreased by 35%, but the number of mothers aged 35 or older has increased by 74%, and high-risk deliveries, including multiple births and premature births, have surged by more than 50%.