Starting next year, patients will pay no up-front medical fees for cesarean births.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on Tuesday that the Cabinet approved the change to the enforcement decree of the National Health Insurance Act the same day.

In 2023, cesarean deliveries accounted for 64-point-three percent of all births.

While there are no out-of-pocket costs for a natural birth, until now the patient had to pay five percent of the total cost of a cesarean delivery.

According to Lee Jung-kyu, director general of the health ministry’s bureau of health insurance policy, the change reflects the reality of the high number of cesarean deliveries and the need to support parents who wish to have children.