China's hospitals close their obstetrics departments.
In a move sparked by business adjustments and decreasing birth rates, Ningbo City Yinzhou District Second Hospital has closed its Obstetrics Department. This news has triggered widespread attention on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, with netizens expressing their reactions to the closure in various ways.
28 September 2023
According to a farewell video by a gynecologist from the hospital, although the obstetrics department is closed, the medical staff will still be providing services in other departments. The hospital had earlier announced that due to scientific and technological development needs in Yinzhou District, it would stop offering prenatal and childbirth services starting from September 18th, 2023.
The closure of the Obstetrics Department is part of a wider trend seen across China, where maternal and child medical resources are being optimized and integrated across districts. The decrease in birth rates has led to fewer young people, which in turn makes it unviable for some hospitals to continue providing obstetric services. Netizens have shared various reasons for this situation, including the high cost of raising children, increasing social pressure, lack of desire for marriage and family among younger generations, and the influence of feminist movements advocating against traditional gender roles.
In addition, some netizens have pointed out that the demographic trends in China are being viewed as a 'demographic crisis' by Europe and America, who predict that this could lead to an economic burden for China in the future due to the decreasing workforce population.
On the other hand, there are also netizens expressing concern over how the closure of the Obstetrics Department will affect related industries and their employees. Some fear job losses in kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and other places that may close down due to decreased demand for their services.
The impact of the birth rate is seen as stage-specific, with obstetric department closures being the first affected, followed by kindergarten closures, elementary school closures, middle school closures, and high school closures. Tech entrepreneur Jack Ma had predicted this trend in a 2023 Weibo video.
Despite the concerns, some netizens argue that people should focus on their own lives rather than worry about population decline. They believe it is acceptable for birth rates to decrease as child-rearing has become increasingly difficult and time-consuming, requiring a great deal of effort to feed, entertain, educate, and ensure the child's safety in today's digital age.
In conclusion, while the closure of Ningbo City Yinzhou District Second Hospital's Obstetrics Department marks a significant shift in medical resources optimization across China, it also highlights the broader societal changes resulting from decreasing birth rates and changing attitudes towards marriage, family, and child-rearing among younger generations.