Jeju Residents' 'Infertility Treatment' Relief Expected... Specialized Hospital Opens

63% of Last Year's City Procedure Fee Support Cases Were Out-of-Province Treatments

Only Two Local Hospitals... One More Expected to Provide Stable Treatment

With more than 60% of Jeju residents traveling outside the province for infertility treatment, the opening of a hospital specializing in infertility treatment is expected to provide relief in treatment accessibility.

According to the medical community in Jeju on the 15th, infertility treatment specialist Hospital A opened yesterday in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju City.

Jeju City supported 880 infertility procedures last year, of which 556 cases, accounting for 63%, were treated outside the province. Additionally, of the 326 in vitro fertilization procedures supported by Seogwipo City, 244 cases, or 75%, were treated outside the province.

While there are various reasons why many patients seek treatment outside the province instead of locally, both the medical community and residents explain that the fundamental reason is the lack of specialized infertility treatment hospitals.

Before Hospital A opened, there were only two infertility treatment hospitals in Jeju Province, and one of them temporarily closed earlier this year, likely increasing the number of infertility treatments requiring travel to the mainland in the first half of this year.

Given that rest and stability after procedures are important characteristics of infertility treatment, the opening of one more infertility treatment hospital is expected to reduce the burden of traveling for procedures, allowing Jeju residents to receive more stable treatment.

The director of Hospital A graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and has been dedicated exclusively to infertility treatment for 36 years, starting as a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with a focus on infertility at Seoul National University Hospital since 1988, and later serving as a professor in the infertility department at Seoul Asan Medical Center.

Meanwhile, on the 21st of last month, Jeju Province announced an expansion of infertility support policies starting next year to address the low birthrate issue during a meeting where Governor Oh Young-hoon listened to the difficulties faced by infertile couples.

The province plans to expand the eligibility for support of in vitro fertilization (fresh and frozen embryos) and artificial insemination procedure costs from the previous groups?basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty class, and households with income below 180% of the median income?to all infertile couples. Additionally, the limits on the number of supported procedures?9 times for fresh embryo, 7 times for frozen embryo, and 5 times for artificial insemination?will be removed.

In particular, as a pilot project, the province will support 50% of the first procedure cost, up to a maximum of 2 million KRW, for women aged 25 to 40 who wish to undergo egg freezing procedures.

Jeju = Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won yjm3070@asiae.co.kr

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