People Power Party Meets with Medical Association President, Democratic Party Meets with Nursing Association President

Ruling and Opposition Parties Each Push Medical Reform Policies
Hospitals and University Hospitals on the Brink of Collective Strike

Within the 22nd National Assembly, attempts to resolve conflicts between the government and the medical community are unfolding differently. Amid extreme confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties, the People Power Party is meeting with the president of the Korean Medical Association through an off-site 'special committee politics,' while the Democratic Party of Korea continues discussions on the Medical Workforce Support Act centered around Assemblyman Kim Yoon's office.

In Yohan, People Power Party proportional representative (left), and Kim Yoon, Democratic Party proportional representative (right) [Image source=Yonhap News]

The People Power Party's Medical Reform Special Committee will meet with Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Medical Association, at 2 p.m. on the 14th. Inyo Han, chairman of the Medical Reform Special Committee, is scheduled to meet with President Lim at the National Assembly member's office that day to share opinions on the government's medical reform promotion plans. This is interpreted as an attempt led by the People Power Party outside the Assembly to open a path toward resolving medical-policy conflicts. The People Power Party has previously announced a plan to focus on livelihood issues through 15 internal special committees instead of participating in standing committees formed solely by the Democratic Party. The Medical Association is on the verge of a 'collective strike and general rally' involving hospitals, clinics, and university hospitals nationwide on the 18th.

Democratic Party Assemblyman Kim Yoon held a 'Policy Meeting with Representatives of Health and Medical Professional Organizations' on the 11th to explain the roadmap for reintroducing the Nursing Act. Attendees included Jin Sung-jun, policy chief of the Democratic Party, Tak Young-ran, president of the Korean Nurses Association, Kwak Ji-yeon, president of the Korean Assistant Nurses Association, Kim Jeong-tae, president of the Korean Hospital Pharmacists Association, Yoon Sung-chan, president of the Korean Oriental Medical Association, and Hong Soo-yeon, vice president of the Korean Dental Association. Assemblyman Kim announced plans to promote the Nursing Act, which the president vetoed during the 21st National Assembly, together with the Medical Workforce Support Act. He is a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee.

Kim Yoon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the 'Policy Meeting with Representatives of Health and Medical Professional Organizations to Complete People-Centered Medical Reform' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 11th.

However, the Democratic Party has decided to continue discussions regarding adopting the Nursing Act as a party policy. On the 13th, the Democratic Party resolved to legislate the Public Medical School Act and the Regional Doctor Training Act as party policies, stating that "the need for detailed discussion regarding the Nursing Act is greater than for other bills."