Last maternity ward in Miryang closes, forcing pregnant women to travel elsewhere to give birth
The last remaining maternity hospital in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, is set to close next month after 40 years of serving the local community, raising concerns that the collapse of regional maternity care could further accelerate the decline of the nation’s provincial areas. Annual deliveries in Miryang plunge from 400 to 100 Opened in 1986, Miryang Jeil Hospital has been one of the…
Miryang, a small town in South Gyeongsang Province, will lose its only maternity hospital next month, forcing expectant mothers to travel to neighboring areas to give birth. The closure comes after 40 years of service to the local community. Annual deliveries in Miryang have dropped from 400 to just 100. Opened in 1986, Miryang Jeil Hospital was once one of the largest facilities in the region, boasting 79 beds and departments for obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine. Over the years, it delivered more than 20,000 babies.
The hospital's delivery unit now operates with only two medical professionals: the 70-year-old hospital director and a 60-year-old obstetrician. The obstetrician recently announced his intention to leave, prompting the director to make the difficult decision to close the hospital. Financial struggles have been a significant factor in the hospital's closure, as South Korea's declining birthrate has led to reduced demand for medical services.
Miryang's population recently fell below the 100,000 threshold for the first time, resulting in a decreased number of patients seeking care at the hospital.
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