Party-Government-Presidential Office: "Accelerating Essential Medical Care Act Legislation... Nursing Care Costs to Be Covered by Health Insurance"

Emphasizing Sufficient Supply of Essential Medical Personnel
Expanding the Central Government's Role in Integrated Care

The Presidential Office, the government, and the Democratic Party of Korea have agreed to accelerate follow-up measures such as the enactment of the Essential Medical Services Act in relation to strengthening regional public healthcare and implementing integrated care. They also decided to expedite the passage of related bills that would apply national health insurance to reduce the burden of caregiving costs in line with the state responsibility for care policy.

Ruling party lawmakers from the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, Minister of Health and Welfare Chung Eunkyung, and Moon Jinyoung, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, held a party-government-presidential consultative meeting at the National Assembly on this day to discuss legislative and policy implementation plans.

Lee Sujin, the Democratic Party's secretary for the Health and Welfare Committee, stated after the meeting, "We plan to handle bills such as the Essential Medical Services Act and the Regional Doctors Act during the regular session of the National Assembly," adding, "The government has decided to prepare revised alternatives." The Essential Medical Services Act includes measures to support medical services directly related to people's lives, such as critical care, emergency care, obstetrics, and pediatrics. Lee also noted, "There were many calls to speed up the legislative process."

Park Jumin, the Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the Health and Welfare Committee, emphasized during the meeting, "We must succeed in medical reform that ensures sufficient medical personnel in regional and essential fields," and added, "We must not repeat the mistakes of the previous administration."

Moon Jinyoung, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, is speaking at the party-government-presidential consultative meeting on health and welfare held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on September 4, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

In response to the aftermath of the medical crisis, discussions also covered measures to improve the training environment for medical residents and the preparation of bills to prevent gaps in essential medical services. Lee explained, "There was also discussion about the need to use government funds, if necessary, to provide a proper educational environment for returning residents."

They decided to accelerate legislation to enable the application of national health insurance to caregiving costs. Lee stated, "In the case of caregiving costs, implementation will begin gradually, focusing on long-term care hospitals," and added, "We will also enhance the specificity and speed of services such as integrated nursing and caregiving."

During the meeting, there were also calls for the central government to take a leading role in integrated care. Welfare committee members from the Democratic Party urged, "At first, local governments may not be able to implement it properly, so the government must take an active role," and requested, "Please step in for matters such as funding, personnel, and organizational support."

Meanwhile, the Welfare Committee plans to hold party-government-presidential consultative meetings every two months to discuss policy, and will convene additional meetings if major issues arise. The aim is to achieve tangible results, such as passing key reform bills of the Lee Jaemyung administration during this year's regular session of the National Assembly, where these legislative priorities will be a central focus.