Information on Over 400 Delivery-Capable Medical Institutions Released... Less Legwork for Pregnant Women

Available via the Healthcare Big Data Open System

Location-based service linked with the "HIRA Health Map" also to be provided

Expectant mothers will soon find it easier to locate hospitals capable of delivering babies, as the inconvenience of searching online or making numerous phone calls to hospitals for confirmation is expected to be reduced.

On July 13, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) announced that it will release information on medical institutions (including birthing centers) capable of actual deliveries through the Healthcare Big Data Open System. This system is built using the institutions’ medical expense claims and healthcare resource data, and is aimed at improving medical accessibility for pregnant women and their guardians.

According to HIRA, as of last year, there were 436 medical institutions in Korea providing delivery services, representing a decline of nearly 30% compared to 620 institutions in 2015. In particular, among 1,571 obstetrics and gynecology clinics and hospitals responsible for community deliveries, only 260 actually performed deliveries. This means just 16.5% of all obstetrics and gynecology clinics and hospitals provided delivery services.

With the continued decrease in the number of institutions capable of performing deliveries, pregnant women have struggled to find hospitals where they can actually give birth. Many have relied on information from online communities or contacted medical institutions directly for confirmation.

The newly released information will be available to the public on HIRA’s statistical information platform, the Healthcare Big Data Open System. In addition, during the second half of this year, HIRA plans to further enhance its services by linking with the "HIRA Health Map" on its website, which will provide users with location-based guidance to nearby medical institutions capable of performing deliveries.

HIRA explained that it has established data production standards and utilization plans through consultations with the Korean Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and will continue to update and supplement the information by reflecting feedback from healthcare professionals. However, since the actual availability of delivery services may change depending on each institution’s operating conditions, HIRA advises individuals to confirm with the medical institution before visiting.

Seungkwon Hong, President of HIRA, stated, "The release of information on medical institutions capable of delivering babies is a public service utilizing healthcare big data that people can feel in their daily lives. We will continue to actively provide information and services that help fill gaps in regional, essential, and public healthcare through AI-driven innovation, and that can practically reduce inconveniences for both the public and healthcare professionals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.