Jo Gyu-hong "Improving Nurse Treatment, the State's Responsibility... Party-Government Consultations on Revising License Revocation Law Underway"

Regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's exercise of the right to request reconsideration (veto) on the enactment of the Nursing Act, the government announced future policy directions including improving nurses' working conditions and establishing a new care system.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong held a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul on the resolution to request reconsideration of the Nursing Act and stated, "We will establish a new medical, nursing, and care system suitable for the aging era, and the state will take responsibility for improving nurses' working conditions."

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyuhong is giving a briefing on the Cabinet meeting's request for reconsideration regarding the Nursing Act on the 16th.
[Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare]

Minister Cho said, "With the principles of building a demand-centered integrated care system, establishing a rational collaboration system among professions, and creating a legal framework through social discussions, we will lay the foundation for elderly people to receive care services where they live," adding, "We will streamline fragmented services and reorganize scattered laws and systems." He continued, "We will also establish a rational collaboration system so that various professions in the field can harmoniously care for patients based on their expertise."

He also conveyed that, based on essential medical support measures, pediatric medical system improvement plans, and basic emergency medical plans announced consecutively in the first half of this year, the government will strengthen regionally complete essential medical care. He mentioned the policy to faithfully implement the comprehensive nursing workforce support plan announced last month to help nurses grow into excellent professional medical personnel. Minister Cho emphasized, "The government's measures will be prepared by collecting opinions from various professions and through social discussions," and added, "We will visit more sites directly to share difficulties and promote necessary policies."

Regarding the collective actions of nurses, Minister Cho requested restraint, saying, "Nurses have been by patients' sides for the past 100 years. I believe you will continue to stay by patients' sides in the future." In response to criticism that improving nurses' working conditions is difficult with government policy alone without legislation, he said, "We will faithfully implement the comprehensive nursing workforce support plan and the state will take responsibility for improving nurses' working environments," adding, "We will decide on the legislative direction through consultation with the ruling party."

Furthermore, concerning the Medical License Revocation Act (Medical Service Act amendment) centered on the medical community, he mentioned, "It is true that there is public opinion that revoking a medical license when a medical professional receives a prison sentence or higher for any crime is excessive," and stated, "We will conduct consultations between the ruling party and the government regarding the direction of the related law amendment."