Hospitals across China are ceasing newborn delivery services due to a declining population, resulting in a reduced demand.
While the exact number of hospitals discontinuing these services remains unclear, recent closures have been observed in at least four hospitals across three provinces, as reported on WeChat.
China’s population decline, attributed to record-low birth rates and increased deaths from COVID-19, has prompted Beijing to prioritize the recovery of its post-pandemic economy.
With fertility-boosting measures proving ineffective and young people opting out of parenthood due to factors like unemployment and societal pressures, hospitals are reallocating resources away from obstetrics to address the needs of an aging population.
Rural hospitals, facing budget constraints, find obstetrics particularly burdensome, exacerbating strains on their already limited resources.
As the number of taxpayers declines while healthcare costs for the elderly rise, hospitals, especially in rural areas, are compelled to cut programs, including obstetrics, which operate at a financial loss.
Suggestions to increase fees for obstetrics services have been met with resistance, raising concerns about access to maternal healthcare.
Despite efforts by the Chinese government to encourage childbirth post the one-child policy, many women remain unconvinced due to challenges in balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.
President Xi Jinping’s call to address risks in the women’s field reflects the government’s concerns over declining birth rates.
However, without significant support for families, including substantial child benefit plans, the prospects of increasing birth rates remain uncertain.
Meanwhile, South Korea, facing its own fertility crisis, struggles with a shortage of obstetrics and gynecology doctors.
The declining number of medical students specializing in women’s health exacerbates the problem, leading to closures of delivery rooms, especially in rural areas.
Efforts to address these shortages, such as increasing medical school enrollment quotas, face opposition from current physicians and students advocating for better pay and working conditions.
Unfortunately, the ongoing strikes have resulted in public health consequences, including reports of miscarriages and post-delivery complications due to the absence of caregivers.
