Medical Sector 'Struggle', Nursing Sector 'Thanksgiving Relay'... Aftermath Continues Following Direct Referral of Nursing Act

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The aftermath of the National Assembly's decision to directly refer the Nursing Act bill to the plenary session continues. The medical community has intensified its protest activities against the Democratic Party, which led the direct referral, while the nursing community is conducting a 'thanksgiving relay' to continuously highlight the necessity of enacting the Nursing Act.

At the temporary general assembly of the Korean Medical Association held on the 18th, a resolution to oppose the direct submission of the Nursing Act bill and others to the National Assembly plenary session was read aloud.
[Photo by Korean Medical Association]

According to the medical community on the 20th, the Korean Medical Association held an extraordinary delegate meeting on the 18th at the association hall in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where it resolved to form an emergency countermeasure committee and adopt a resolution to fight against the Democratic Party. This marks the medical community's full-scale entry into 'protest mode' after the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee passed the direct referral of the Nursing Act bill to the plenary session, escalating their opposition. Lee Pil-su, president of the Korean Medical Association, said, "We have strongly opposed the Nursing Act by forming 13 health and welfare medical coalitions so far," adding, "We will mobilize all our capabilities and stop it no matter how much it breaks our bodies."

Furthermore, the delegate meeting stated in its resolution, "To overcome the current situation, many doctors insisted on forming a strong emergency countermeasure committee to engage in the fight, so it was resolved to form the emergency countermeasure committee as originally planned," and "We also resolved to firmly respond by holding a declaration of struggle against the legislative outrage led by the Democratic Party, which spearheaded this incident, by punishing them through elections and suspending political support and policy cooperation."

In particular, it warned, "There was unanimous agreement among the delegates attending the general meeting that the evil law shaking the foundation of medical care and dividing medical services due to the selfish interests of a specific profession must be immediately repealed. If anyone tries to test or break our will to fight, we will face strong resistance, including a general strike." The Health and Welfare Medical Coalition, which includes the Korean Medical Association and 13 other health and medical professional organizations, plans to hold a general rally to block the Nursing Act on the 26th.

After the decision to directly refer the bill to the plenary session, the nursing community, which welcomed the move, has continued to support the Democratic Party lawmakers who led the effort and emphasized the necessity of enacting the Nursing Act. Since the 16th, the Korean Nurses Association has been holding large boards in front of four district offices of Democratic Party lawmakers on the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, expressing gratitude. The boards read, "Welcome the decision to directly refer the Nursing Act to the plenary session," "The Nursing Act is a common election pledge of both ruling and opposition parties and protects the safety of the people and patients," and "Thank you."

The Korean Nurses Association is holding a 'Thank You Relay' in front of the constituency offices of Democratic Party members of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, welcoming the decision to directly submit the Nursing Act bill to the plenary session.
[Photo by Korean Nurses Association]

Shin Kyung-rim, president of the Korean Nurses Association, said, "We deeply thank the members of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee who approved the submission of the Nursing Act to the plenary session," emphasizing, "The Nursing Act is a vital livelihood bill that must be enacted for a healthy Republic of Korea." She added, "Once the Nursing Act is enacted, skilled nursing personnel will be trained, which will enhance public health and patient safety," and "To respond to an ultra-aged society and periodic public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nursing Act must be enacted."

The Korean Nurses Association previously stated in a press release, "The Nursing Act aims to train nurses and other personnel who will work in medical institutions and communities and enable them to work continuously, thereby contributing to the improvement of public health and patient safety," adding, "If the Nursing Act passes the National Assembly plenary session, it is expected to open the way to contribute to public health improvement and patient safety by fostering excellent skilled nursing personnel, ensuring their proper placement, and improving their treatment so that nursing personnel can work continuously."

It is expected to take more than a month for the Nursing Act bill to be submitted to the National Assembly plenary session. Although the Speaker of the National Assembly can submit a bill directly to the plenary session after agreeing with each negotiation group when the bill is decided to go straight from the standing committee to the plenary session, if no agreement is reached within 30 days, the submission will be decided by a secret ballot at the first plenary session held after the period expires. Currently, it is anticipated that bipartisan agreement on the enactment of the Nursing Act will be difficult. In this case, a voting procedure to decide whether to submit the bill to the plenary session is expected to be held again.