Japan Maternity Services Struggle with Few OBs
By Danell Swim
March 25, 2008
A total of 77 hospitals and clinics across Japan plan to restrict or end childbirth services due to a lack of obstetricians, a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has shown.
In three cases, this is likely to hinder the continuation of childbirth services in regional areas, but so far no solution has been found. Ministry officials say they want to respond to the problem quickly through measures such as dispatching university hospital doctors to areas requiring assistance.
The survey was carried out in January. It was found that 45 institutions would halt childbirth services, and 32 would enforce restrictions, such as refusing to accept women who returned to their hometowns just before giving birth.
Seventy of the institutions would be able to deal with the situation with assistance from other institutions in the region, but it would be difficult for the seven remaining hospitals and clinics to send patients to other institutions, the survey found.
Comments
Got something to say?