Gwangju City Launches Full-Scale Support for Infertile Couples' Treatment Expenses

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 5th that it will actively begin additional support for medical procedure costs to help infertile couples struggling with infertility achieve healthy pregnancy and childbirth.

The support for infertile couples' medical procedure costs was initiated after a proposal titled "Reducing the Economic Burden for Those Who Have Exhausted the Number of Infertility Treatment Health Insurance Applications" received strong public sympathy on 'Baro Communication Gwangju,' operated by Gwangju City last November. Following the establishment of a discussion forum and policy recommendations from the Citizens' Rights Committee, Mayor Lee Yong-seop promoted the project with a strong commitment to ensure that "no one is unable to have children due to economic conditions."

Infertility-related projects are required by relevant laws to be coordinated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare due to differences in the number of procedures, pregnancy success rates, and support conditions among central and local governments.

The city has repeatedly requested the central government regarding the necessity of the project, the urgent need for additional support for infertile couples, and specific measures to ensure the project's effectiveness, ultimately reaching an agreement on detailed support plans.

Additional support will be provided up to four times within the year, with no lifetime limit, for those who have resided in Gwangju for more than one year and have exhausted their infertility treatment health insurance application limits.

Furthermore, to broaden the scope of support, those who have exceeded 180% of the median income and have exhausted their health insurance application limits will also be eligible for support.

The city has secured the project's effectiveness by specifically subdividing the support limit amounts per procedure.

Applicants wishing to receive support should bring proof of exhaustion of health insurance application limits and visit the public health center in their residential jurisdiction.

In addition, Gwangju City plans to support self-help groups where infertile couples can communicate and operate programs including counseling for stress and depression expected during the treatment process to alleviate the emotional difficulties of infertile couples.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, "With this support, I hope that infertile couples who are eagerly waiting for children will not lose hope and will be able to hold their precious children in their arms." He added, "We will continue to promote various projects to reduce the economic and psychological burdens of infertile couples and do our best to make Gwangju a city where it is good to have and raise children."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.