Kim Min-seok Proposes 'Nurse Act' to Separate Nurses from Medical Service Act as Main Sponsor

Long-Awaited Nursing Sector Wish, 'Nursing Act' Introduced as a Bill
49 Lawmakers from Both Parties Join as Co-Sponsors

Kim Min-seok, Chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, is presiding over the full committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Kim Min-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and chairman of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee (Seoul Yeongdeungpo-eul), has taken the lead in proposing the long-awaited "Nursing Act." Unusually, 49 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties agreed with the purpose of the bill and signed on as co-sponsors.

This bill comprehensively covers the scope of work and improvement of treatment for nursing personnel. This is because the existing Medical Service Act does not encompass the specialized and diverse roles of nursing staff. Currently, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany have enacted and implemented independent nursing laws separate from the Medical Service Act, but in South Korea, the introduction of such a bill has not gained momentum due to opposition from the medical community and others.

Accordingly, Chairman Kim proposed the Nursing Act to establish a legal basis for implementing systematic and comprehensive nursing policies and to secure high-quality nursing personnel in the long term.

The bill specifically clarifies the scope of nurses' duties and mandates the establishment of a comprehensive nursing plan for the training and improvement of treatment of nurses and others. It also requires the establishment and operation of regional nursing personnel centers.

The bill also includes provisions to resolve regional imbalances in workforce supply and demand. It provides a basis for the state and local governments to formulate policies and support public medical institutions to ensure the smooth supply of nurses by region.

Additionally, it includes grounds for suspending or revoking qualifications and licenses in cases of disqualifications such as falsification of medical records and license lending.

Chairman Kim emphasized, "Behind the praise of 'COVID-19 warriors' lies the sweat and tears of countless nurses," adding, "In the midst of insufficient personnel, nurses suffer from heavy workloads and poor treatment, leading to severe feelings of relative deprivation. Institutional improvements for nursing personnel are urgently needed."

He further explained the purpose of the bill, saying, "The independent Nursing Act reflects the demands and trends of the times, will stably secure skilled nursing personnel, improve the quality of nursing services, and contribute to the promotion of public health."

Meanwhile, 49 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties joined Chairman Kim as co-sponsors of the Nursing Act.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.