Chilgok County Strengthens Essential Healthcare for Pregnant Women and Young Children

On March 4, Chilgok County in North Gyeongsang Province announced that it will fully implement the “2026 Obstetrics & Pediatrics ONE-hour Medical Service System” to address the declining birth rate and strengthen essential local healthcare services.

Tae-gok County Office panorama / Photo by Lee Hwan Kim

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This program aims to improve medical accessibility and reinforce the local healthcare safety net by supporting extended hours for obstetrics and pediatrics clinics-offering care at night, on weekends, and public holidays-so that pregnant women and young children can receive medical attention within one hour of their residence.

For 2026, Chilgok County has selected one new medical institution and one continuing participant for the project, and has begun operations accordingly.

The newly participating institution, Joeun Pediatrics Clinic (located in Waegwan-eup), will provide extended hours until 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and until 3 p.m. on Saturdays, with morning service available even on public holidays. This is expected to enable rapid response to mild or acute pediatric illnesses.

The continuing participant, Samsung Queens Women’s Clinic (located in Waegwan-eup), is extending outpatient obstetrics services until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and until 3 p.m. on Saturdays, thereby improving convenience for pregnant women seeking care.

To alleviate the burden on medical institutions resulting from extended hours, Chilgok County will provide support such as covering physicians’ labor costs and will strengthen cooperation systems to ensure the stable maintenance of obstetrics and pediatrics services within the region.

In particular, with the rise in dual-income families and ongoing concerns about medical service gaps, this initiative is expected to become a highly effective policy by minimizing service gaps during weekday evenings and weekends.

A county official stated, “It is most important to create an environment where pregnant women and children can receive timely medical care when needed,” adding, “We will continue to closely collaborate with local medical institutions to further strengthen a citizen-centered essential healthcare system.”

Meanwhile, Chilgok County plans to encourage the expanded participation of pediatric medical institutions in the future, based on the results of the project’s operation.

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