Minister Jeung Eunkyung Inspects Public and Maternal Healthcare Sites: "Swift Measures for Safe Childbirth to Be Prepared"

Visit to Senior Physician Program Institution and Regional Maternal and Child Healthcare Center in Jeollanam-do

"We Will Establish a Medical Accident Safety Net and an Appropriate Compensation System"

On May 14, Minister of Health and Welfare Jeung Eunkyung visited Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, to inspect public healthcare sites and listen to local medical staff about the challenges they face through a roundtable discussion.

Jung Eun-kyung, Minister of Health and Welfare, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 23rd Hansen's Disease Day and the 110th Anniversary Ceremony of the National Sorokdo Hospital held at the Sorokdo Hospital Complex Cultural Center in Goheung, Jeonnam, on the 14th. Ministry of Health and Welfare

This visit was organized to examine how government support programs addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals at local public medical institutions are being implemented on the ground, and to assess the current state of the regional maternal and child healthcare system, whose importance has recently increased.

Minister Jeung first visited Suncheon Medical Center, a regional public hospital in eastern Jeollanam-do, where she toured the outpatient clinic, emergency room, and palliative care ward. Suncheon Medical Center serves as a regional hub hospital for Suncheon, Yeosu, Gwangyang, Gurye, Goheung, and Boseong in eastern Jeollanam-do, providing essential medical services such as emergency care, internal medicine, rehabilitation, and integrated care programs. With the opening of a dental clinic for people with disabilities scheduled for later this month, the center’s role in specialized care for people with disabilities is also expected to be strengthened.

In particular, Minister Jeung held a roundtable with senior physicians at Suncheon Medical Center, which has been selected this year for the government’s Senior Physician Support Program. At this meeting, she reviewed the impact of the government’s staffing support initiatives at the site and heard directly from the field about the need for program expansion and stable operations.

Minister Jeung stated, “I am grateful to the medical staff and stakeholders who steadfastly support the local public health sector,” adding, “We will continue our efforts to develop support measures that local medical centers can truly feel and benefit from.”

Minister Jeung then visited Hyundai Women and Children’s Hospital, the only regional maternal and child healthcare center in Jeollanam-do, where she checked the operation of the high-risk maternal and neonatal care system and emergency response system in the region, and listened to on-site medical professionals’ suggestions for improving the system.

Since 2013, Hyundai Women and Children’s Hospital has been designated as a regional maternal and child healthcare center, specializing in the treatment of high-risk mothers and newborns. It currently operates three delivery rooms and a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 15 beds, staffed by five obstetricians and three neonatologists.

The government plans to swiftly develop measures to improve the high-risk maternal and neonatal care system, so that everyone can give birth safely anywhere, based on the results of this visit and various discussions. The improvement plan will include enhancements to the maternal and child healthcare system, referral and transfer systems, and the strengthening of medical accident safety nets, encompassing all areas of the healthcare system.

Minister Jeung emphasized, “The safety of pregnant women and newborns is a value that must be protected under all circumstances. We will promptly develop improvement plans to prevent further unfortunate accidents and to ensure that pregnant women can give birth with peace of mind and safety.” She also stressed, “We will reinforce the medical accident safety net and establish an appropriate compensation system so that dedicated healthcare professionals at essential medical sites can focus on patient care.”

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