Due to shortage of beds: woman flies 150 kilometers for emergency cesarean section

A woman in her 35th week of pregnancy in South Korea was rejected by 25 hospitals due to a shortage of maternity staff and intensive care beds, and was flown by helicopter 150 km for an emergency cesarean section at Jesus Hospital in North Jeolla. The surgery was successful and the mother and newborn are recovering.

A medical drama in South Korea: a woman in her 30s, in her 35th week of pregnancy, found herself in a life-threatening situation after premature rupture of membranes. 25 hospitals in Gyeonggi Province, Seoul, and nearby areas refused to admit her due to a severe shortage of maternity staff, pediatricians, and available beds in neonatal units. Emergency services had to fly her by rescue helicopter approximately 150 km to Jesus Hospital in Jeonju, North Jeolla, where expanded teams were waiting for an emergency cesarean section. The surgery was successful, and the mother and newborn are recovering under supervision. Prof. Hong Sang-gi, who led the surgery, said that "her life was saved by a miracle" and that the rapid treatment prevented a disaster. The case reignites public discourse in South Korea over the collapse of emergency medical systems and the chronic shortage of resident doctors.