With more couples undergoing infertility procedures due to delayed entry into society and marriage, there is a growing call to seek changes in the nation's overall infertility policies. As the low birthrate issue emerges as a national challenge, experts argue that support for infertile couples across the country, who are determined to conceive and give birth, must be managed systematically. Infertility policy experts interviewed by Asia Economy stressed that the central government should oversee and integrate all infertility policies and find ways to connect medical systems nationwide, from Jeju to Seoul.

Kim Dongsik, Senior Research Fellow at the Korean Women's Development Institute, said, "If low birthrate is the country's biggest policy issue, the central government should take the lead." Kim, a policy expert who has analyzed support policies for infertile couples and infertility treatment support systems for years, currently serves as an advisory member of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, an advisory member for Seoul's infertility and oocyte cryopreservation support review, a member of the Population, Health and Welfare Association's subcommittee on low birthrate and ageing, and a member of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's infertility medical institution evaluation committee.

Kim explained, "The state is expanding various resources and services linked to infertility. Currently, the focus is on increasing quantity. However, as these policies expand, they need to be designed to suit different population groups, but since local governments are each implementing their own measures, it becomes a matter of increasing quantity without qualitative improvement." He added, "Some regions may flexibly adapt policies based on their population composition, but ultimately, the central government should set the main framework."

원본보기 아이콘

원본보기 아이콘

He also pointed out that, to alleviate the difficulties faced by infertile couples in the provinces, standardization of infertility services across regions is necessary. He said, "Rather than designating a large number of infertility clinics, the government should selectively designate and develop high-quality clinics and standardize them. Not only facilities and equipment but also personnel and capabilities should be objectively assessed and disclosed, so that people know such clinics exist in their own regions without having to travel to the metropolitan area. Standardization is needed for this."

Given that infertility clinics are concentrated in the capital area and more couples from the provinces are traveling for treatment, there were also suggestions to establish a cooperative care system nationwide, considering the infertility infrastructure. According to a report titled "Status and Support Measures for Infertile Couples in Jeju" published last year by the Jeju Women and Family Research Institute, a survey of 528 people who received infertility treatment support within the past five years found that 99.1% wanted a cooperative care system that would allow emergency care in local hospitals when they received treatment at out-of-province medical institutions.

Jung Yeo-jin, Senior Research Fellow at the Jeju Women and Family Research Institute and author of the report, explained, "During infertility procedures, patients may experience various symptoms such as shortness of breath, abdominal fluid accumulation due to ovarian stimulation injections, sudden bleeding, cesarean section due to miscarriage, headaches from propofol injections, weight gain and menstrual pain from hormone medications." She continued, "It is necessary to establish medical infrastructure and a cooperative care system within the region. I believe such a system can be built around national university hospitals, medical centers, and public health centers."

Kim Myunghee, President of the Korea Infertility Family Association, suggested that university hospitals in each region should play an important role for infertile couples in their areas. She said, "The government should support and raise the standards of regional university hospitals so they can play a central role in infertility procedures. At the same time, we need to consider ways to revitalize local infertility clinics." Kim added, "Right now, we are a 'society creating infertility.' Rather than indiscriminately performing assisted reproductive technology just because of the low birthrate, it is more important to have healthy children."

Infertility specialists who meet patients daily on the front lines appealed for additional support to address the economic difficulties, the challenging environment for taking infertility leave, and the psychological distress such as depression that these patients commonly face. There is a lack of efforts to improve negative perceptions of infertility, so it is necessary for the government to actively foster a supportive atmosphere and provide policy assistance for infertile patients.

Kim Youngsang, Director of Potato and Snowman Clinic, said, "Economic support and expanded leave related to infertility are absolutely necessary. I meet many patients at the clinic who suffer from depression. If the government expands counseling centers for depression and provides emotional support, it would be very helpful." Professor Cho Eunhye of Seoul Station CHA Hospital Infertility Center also emphasized, "I often see patients who take leave or resign from work for procedures. As the duration of infertility treatment increases, costs snowball, so there should be no regional differences, and the out-of-pocket ratio for infertility procedures under health insurance should be eliminated."

Lee Jaeho, Director of Ilsan Maria Hospital, said, "While strengthening financial support, the autonomy of doctors must also be guaranteed. If prescriptions are restricted, doctors are confined to certain procedures and cannot try various approaches."