Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity "Welcome Veto on Nursing Act... General Strike on 17th Postponed"

The healthcare sector, which opposed the enactment of the Nursing Act, welcomed President Yoon Seok-yeol's exercise of the right to request reconsideration (veto) and postponed the general strike that had been scheduled for the 17th. However, they demanded that the National Assembly promptly reconsider the Medical License Revocation Act (amendment to the Medical Service Act), which was excluded from the discussion.

The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity is expressing its position on June 16 in front of the Korean Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's exercise of the veto power on the Nursing Act.
[Photo by Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity]

The 'Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity,' consisting of 13 healthcare professional organizations including the Korea Medical Association and the Korea Licensed Practical Nurses Association, stated at a press conference on the 16th, "The President's exercise of the right to request reconsideration is the only means and the best decision to overcome the current situation," expressing their welcome.

The Medical Solidarity said, "The Nursing Act was feared to represent only the interests of a specific profession, damaging collaboration among healthcare workers and causing significant harm to the healthcare system," and criticized it repeatedly as "an unfair bill that proceeded through unilateral legislative dominance without debate or compromise during the National Assembly plenary session."

Furthermore, they argued that the Medical License Revocation Act should be promptly amended by the National Assembly. The Medical Solidarity stated, "This bill allows license revocation for reasons completely unrelated to medical practice, such as traffic accidents," and expressed regret that it was excluded from the scope of the reconsideration request.

The Medical Solidarity also conveyed their position to postpone the solidarity general strike planned for the 17th until the National Assembly's reconsideration vote and to closely monitor the situation until the bill's processing is completed.