Seoul National University Hospital and Samsung Medical Center designated as
"Severe Maternal and Neonatal Care Centers"
Will serve as final referral institutions and provide top-level care for high-risk mothers and newborns
Seoul National University Hospital and Samsung Medical Center have been designated as "Severe Maternal and Neonatal Care Centers," which will provide care for high-risk mothers and newborns and play a central role in the maternal and child healthcare delivery system.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on May 30, the newly introduced Severe Maternal and Neonatal Care Centers will serve as the final referral institutions and play a pivotal role in the maternal and child healthcare delivery system.
Until now, the government has designated and operated regional neonatal intensive care centers and integrated care centers for high-risk mothers and newborns to provide medical care for high-risk cases. However, there have been difficulties in treating severe patients due to differences in capabilities among centers and a lack of regional infrastructure connectivity. In response, the government has restructured the maternal and child healthcare delivery system to include Severe Maternal and Neonatal Care Centers, Regional Maternal and Child Care Centers, and Local Maternal and Child Care Centers, so that care is provided according to the severity of the case.
The two institutions selected this time are equipped not only with expertise in obstetrics and neonatology, but also with subspecialties in pediatrics and collaborative pediatric care, enabling them to provide the highest level of treatment nationwide for high-risk mothers and newborns, as well as for critically ill patients requiring multidisciplinary care.
In addition, by maintaining a 24-hour care system and operating reserve beds, the centers will be able to accept and treat as many patients as possible when other hospitals are unable to handle emergency cases.
The government will provide each of these two hospitals with 1 billion won for facilities and equipment and 1.2 billion won for operating expenses.
Jung Tongryeong, Director of Public Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "With the designation of these Severe Maternal and Neonatal Care Centers, a foundation has been established for high-risk mothers and newborns to receive specialized medical services in a safer environment," and added, "We will support the centers so that they can also faithfully fulfill their public roles."
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