“Nursing Act is for the Life and Health of the People” Gyeongnam Nurses Association Urges Enactment Rally

Gyeongsangnam-do Nurses Association is holding a rally on the 26th to urge the enactment of the Nursing Act. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongsangnam-do Nurses Association urged the enactment of the Nursing Act in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office on the 26th.

Led by Ok Haengja, President of the Haman-gun Nurses Association, about 200 nurses gathered at the rally, according to the organizers' estimate. The participants shouted slogans such as ▲ Immediate implementation of the promise to enact the Nursing Act ▲ Solving the shortage of doctors who are the main perpetrators of illegal medical practice ▲ Expulsion of hospitals violating the legal nursing staff regulations.

They claimed, "Doctors' organizations and nursing assistant organizations are misleading the public by calling the Nursing Act a bad law and threatening the National Assembly with total strikes."

They also explained, "The Nursing Act is intended to meet the citizens' demands and needs for health care and nursing care in medical institutions and local communities."

"The purpose of enacting the Nursing Act is to institutionalize improvements in treatment to secure skilled nursing personnel through excellent nursing workforce training, proper allocation, and long-term service," they added.

Nam Jeongja, the first vice president, explained, "Both pros and cons were reflected in the process of enacting the Nursing Act, and the ruling and opposition parties reached an agreement," adding, "The Nursing Act is essential to respond to the changing health care environment."

She emphasized, "The enactment of the Nursing Act should not become a subject of political strife and must be enacted to protect the lives of the people and patient safety."

Hwang Juyeong, a nurse at Changwon National Gyeongsang National University Hospital, said, "Ahead of the April 2020 general election, the three major parties promised to promote the enactment of the Nursing Act, and based on the agreement, the three parties simultaneously proposed the Nursing Act on March 25, 2021."

"Through public hearings and the Health and Welfare Committee's bill review subcommittee, a revised Nursing Act was prepared, and on May 17, it passed the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee by bipartisan agreement," she reported.

Nurse Hwang pointed out, "Doctors' organizations and nursing assistant organizations spread false information and make false claims, ignoring public health."

"The Nursing Act is a law requested by the times and the people," she said, demanding, "The National Assembly should promptly complete the legal review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the schedule for the plenary session and enact the law."