Vietnamese Woman Gives Birth in Ambulance After 13 Hospitals Refuse Care Amid Staff Shortage

A Vietnamese woman in her thirties gave birth in an ambulance at Incheon International Airport after being turned away from multiple hospitals due to a shortage of obstetric care. The incident occurred when the woman collapsed at the airport and paramedics, struggling with language barriers, were unable to find a hospital that would accept her. After being refused admission by Inha University Hospital and several other nearby facilities, she experienced severe labor pains while waiting in the ambulance. The delivery was conducted successfully at 2:33 p.m., two hours after the initial emergency call. This case highlights the ongoing medical crisis in South Korea, exacerbated by a strike involving thousands of junior doctors protesting against government plans to increase medical school quotas. Reports indicate a significant rise in incidents where ambulances are unable to find hospitals due to this strike, raising concerns about patient care.