Chilean Midwives Protest Healthcare Changes: 'A Step Back for Women's Health'

Chilean Midwives Protest New Healthcare Standard, Citing Risks to Women's Health SANTIAGO, CHILE – Midwives across Chile are staging a protest against a new Ministry of Health technical standard (N°150) that they say will severely compromise women’s healthcare. The changes, implemented recently, eliminate specialized gynecological-obstetric emergency care and integrate neonatology into pediatrics. "This change is perjudicial for the health of women and for the future of professionals," stated Lucy Rojas, acting president of ColMat, the Chilean Midwives' Association. The concern centers on the elimination of a dedicated gynecological-obstetric emergency room, forcing pregnant women and those with gynecological emergencies to share resources with other patients. One midwife, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her concern: "A pregnant woman with a high-risk condition will no longer be a priority. She could wait hours in a common emergency room without specialized attention, increasing the risk of late diagnoses and unnecessary procedures." The integration of neonatology into pediatrics also raises concerns. Midwives are specialized in neonatal care, and their removal from this area will impact the continuity of care for newborns. The protest underscores the midwives’ commitment to comprehensive women’s and children’s health and their concern that the new standard represents a significant step backward. The midwives are planning a nationwide demonstration on May 23rd to advocate for the reversal of these changes.