Healthcare and Welfare Medical Solidarity 'General Rally' in Front of the National Assembly to Block the Nursing Act... "The Nursing Act Must Be Withdrawn"
Counter Rally to Previous Nursing Act Support Rally
Fierce Confrontation Divided Between Supporters and Opponents
On the 27th, 13 organizations belonging to the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, including the Korean Medical Association, held a "General Rally to Prevent the Enactment of the Nursing Act" in front of the National Assembly. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Amid escalating conflicts in the health and medical community over the enactment of the Nursing Act, professional groups opposing it, including the Korean Medical Association, held a general rally on the 27th.
The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, consisting of 13 organizations including the Medical Association, held the "4 Million Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity General Rally to Block the Enactment of the Nursing Act" at 2 p.m. in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.
This rally was organized to raise awareness about the issues of the Nursing Act bill pending before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and to propose improvement measures aimed at withdrawing the Nursing Act.
At the event, the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity stated, "The Nursing Act represents the interests of only the nursing profession and undermines the unity of the entire health and medical community. The priority should be to prepare measures to improve the current poor working conditions so that all health and medical professions can focus solely on their fundamental roles for public health." They added, "Starting with eight organizations, groups sharing our intentions have been expressing their willingness to join one after another. We will unite all our efforts so that the National Assembly listens sincerely to the voices of the entire health and medical community for the sake of the people, even now."
On the afternoon of the 21st, nurses and nursing college students from across the country participating in the "Nursing Act Enactment" general rally, hosted by the Korean Nurses Association and the National Movement Headquarters for the Promotion of the Nursing Act, are shouting slogans in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The off-site struggle over the enactment of the Nursing Act has intensified since the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee passed the Nursing Act bill in May this year. The health and medical community is sharply divided into supporters and opponents of the Nursing Act.
Earlier, on the 21st, the National Movement Headquarters for the Enactment of the Nursing Act, centered on the Korean Nurses Association, held a "General Rally for the Enactment of the Nursing Act" in front of the National Assembly, demanding its immediate enactment.
At the rally, the National Movement Headquarters announced four demands: ▲The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee must immediately review the Nursing Act according to the National Assembly Act ▲The People Power Party must promptly fulfill the promise to enact the Nursing Act, a common pledge in the ruling and opposition parties' presidential campaigns ▲The Korean Medical Association and some health and medical organizations must immediately stop spreading fake news about the Nursing Act ▲The public and the Korean Nurses Association will not stop fighting until the Nursing Act is enacted.
The Nursing Act aims to establish an independent law regulating nursing personnel and nursing matters to improve the training, supply, and treatment of nurses, and to systematically govern licenses, qualifications, rights, and responsibilities, including the scope of work, thereby enhancing the quality of nursing services.
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