South Korea's newborns face crisis amid doctor shortage

A severe shortage of neonatal doctors in South Korea is creating a widening gap in emergency care, putting the nation's newborns at significant risk. In a recent incident in Jeonju, a baby died after a prolonged transfer between facilities, as the nearest neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) lacked specialized staff or available beds. This situation underscores a broader crisis, particularly outside the greater Seoul area, where some hospitals have only one specialist for over 30 vulnerable infants.

The challenging working conditions for neonatal doctors, characterized by grueling hours, low pay, and high litigation risks, have led to a dramatic decrease in specialists. Government data indicates a 94 percent drop in NICU residents in recent years. Despite substantial investments in programs aimed at increasing the country's low birthrate, experts argue that these efforts have not adequately addressed the necessary medical infrastructure to support newborns.

Medical professionals describe the government's approach as a paradox, encouraging births while neglecting essential emergency care for newborns. The Korean Society of Neonatology has warned that NICUs outside the Seoul metropolitan area are approaching a "state of catastrophe." While the government has announced measures to increase fees for certain procedures and enhance emergency transfer dispatchers, the future of neonatal care remains precarious as the number of neonatologists continues to dwindle.

Parents like Choi Han-seon emphasize the vital role of NICUs, recounting her premature son's survival after months of intensive care for serious complications. She stresses that NICUs are not a luxury but an essential service. However, with a dwindling supply of neonatologists, the long-term availability of such life-saving care is uncertain. Teaching doctor Young-Ah Youn fears that if current trends persist, there will soon be no specialists left to care for these vulnerable babies.