Nursing Act Bill Passes Subcommittee... "Nursing Act is a Law for the People" vs "Special Privileges for Specific Occupations"

Passed at the Health and Welfare Committee Bill Subcommittee on the 9th
Called solely by the Democratic Party of Korea... One member from the People Power Party attended
Nursing Association and Medical Association immediately issued statements for and against

On March 23rd, participants shouted slogans at the nationwide nurses' rally urging the enactment of the Nursing Act near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] As the Nursing Act bill passed the subcommittee, conflicts between professional groups have become sharp again. Upon the news of the bill passing the subcommittee, both supporters and opponents of the Nursing Act immediately issued statements.

The National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee's Bill Review Subcommittee 1 held a meeting on the afternoon of the 9th and passed the Nursing Act bill. There are three bills in total: two Nursing Act bills jointly proposed by Democratic Party members Kim Min-seok and People Power Party member Seo Jeong-sook, and one Nursing and Midwifery Act bill proposed by People Power Party member Choi Yeon-sook.

The subcommittee meeting was convened solely by the Democratic Party. Among the People Power Party members, only Choi Yeon-sook, who proposed the bill, attended. Kang Ki-yoon, the People Power Party's secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee, expressed strong regret, saying, "We strongly regret the Democratic Party's unilateral decision to hold the subcommittee and pass the Nursing Act bill," and criticized, "The Democratic Party's unilateral notification of the meeting just two hours before is nothing but the tyranny and bullying of the majority party."

The Nursing Act is a bill that defines nurses, who are currently classified as medical personnel along with doctors and oriental medicine doctors and are subject to the Medical Service Act, under a separate law. The nursing community has long argued that nurses have difficulty demonstrating their expertise because they are bound by the Medical Service Act enacted in 1951.

It is known that the passed bill reflects some revisions, including the scope of nurses' duties, which had been controversial. The Health and Welfare Committee prepared a compromise bill at the subcommittee on the 27th of last month. The original Nursing Act defined the scope of nurses' duties as "tasks necessary for patient care performed under the guidance or prescription of doctors, dentists, or oriental medicine doctors," but the compromise bill adopted the existing Medical Service Act wording, "assisting medical care performed under the guidance of doctors, dentists, or oriental medicine doctors." Additionally, provisions prioritizing the Nursing Act and clauses related to care workers were deleted.

The Korean Nurses Association welcomed the news of the Nursing Act passing the subcommittee, stating, "This result once again proves that the Nursing Act is a people's law that protects the lives of the nation and patient safety." Regarding the absence of some People Power Party members at the subcommittee on the 9th, they expressed regret and urged, "We hope they actively participate in the full Health and Welfare Committee meeting and the remaining approval procedures."

The Korean Medical Association issued a statement opposing the passage of the Nursing Act bill in the subcommittee. The association criticized the Nursing Act as "declaring special privileges for a specific profession," and said, "The National Assembly has abused the power entrusted by the people and forcibly enacted the Nursing Act, which seriously harms the lives and health of the people." The association emphasized that it will fight with all its might to abolish the Nursing Act.

The Democratic Party plans to hold a full Health and Welfare Committee meeting soon in consultation with the People Power Party to submit the Nursing Act to the National Assembly plenary session.