Sim Sang-jung "Expansion of Healthcare Workforce and Establishment of Infectious Disease Specialized Hospitals"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 19th, Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party, announced, "We will strengthen the public healthcare system and expand healthcare personnel."

That morning, Candidate Sim attended the policy discussion titled "Answering the Questions of COVID-19 Heroes" held at the Life Hall of the Health and Medical Industry Labor Union in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, where she promised to expand public healthcare, promote a new labor law, and implement Sim Sang-jung Care without worries about hospital bills.

Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party, is attending the health and medical policy discussion held at the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 19th, delivering a greeting. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Meeting with healthcare workers, Candidate Sim said, "Until I visited the National Medical Center last August, I was unaware that half of the nurses quit within a year, that seven out of ten experienced mental difficulties, and that this created a vicious cycle where those who remain face even greater hardships," promising to expand healthcare personnel and improve working conditions.

She emphasized, "Less than 10% of medical institutions in our country are public, yet they have treated 80% of COVID-19 patients," and clearly urged that "expanding healthcare personnel, strengthening public healthcare, and establishing an infectious disease response system are tasks that can no longer be postponed even for a moment."

She added, "We will significantly increase healthcare personnel and legislate appropriate staffing levels." Along with this, she pledged to create a 'new labor law' to grant strong labor rights. Based on this, she explained plans to promote a four-day workweek. Additionally, she reiterated 'Sim Sang-jung Care,' which centers on a hospital bill cap of 1 million won.

Candidate Sim stated, "From now on, regardless of the disease or treatment, we will limit the total annual burden to 1 million won to create a Korea without worries about medical expenses," and added, "We will eliminate medical inequality and achieve a just and healthy great society."