Conflict between medical associations... Nursing Act legislation temporarily postponed

Disagreement Over Expanded Nurse Duties
KMA Strongly Opposes "Nurses Allowed Independent Clinics"

Nursing Assistants and Caregivers
Likely Excluded from Nursing Act

On the morning of the 27th, in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, representatives from the Korean Nurses Association and others are urging the enactment of the Nursing Act during a Wednesday rally aimed at establishing the Nursing Act and expelling illegal medical practices and institutions.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The enactment of the Nursing Act, initially expected to pass the National Assembly within this month, has been postponed. As controversies continue to arise within the industry over the scope of nurses' duties stipulated in the bill, both ruling and opposition parties have begun seeking a consensus.

According to the National Assembly on the 29th, a total of three related bills have been proposed for the enactment of the Nursing Act. These include the Nursing Act bills respectively introduced by Kim Min-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea and Seo Jeong-sook of the People Power Party, and the Nursing and Midwifery Act bill introduced by Choi Yeon-sook of the People Power Party. On the 27th, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee held the 1st Bill Review Subcommittee and attempted to merge these bills into a single bill, but failed to reach an agreement and decided to "continue review."

Although there was growing opinion that the bill, which has been dragging on sluggishly, should be processed promptly, it is reported that many members of the subcommittee believe it is difficult to handle it urgently as related controversies continue within the industry.

The most contentious issue is how to define nurses' duties in the new Nursing Act. The currently proposed Nursing Act bill defines nurses' duties as "tasks necessary for patient care performed under the guidance or prescription of a doctor, dentist, or Korean medicine doctor." Compared to the existing Medical Service Act, which defines it as "assisting medical treatment performed under the guidance of a doctor," the scope of related duties has been expanded.

Lee Pil-su, President of the Korean Medical Association, is speaking at a joint press conference held by 10 organizations urging the withdrawal of the Nursing Act in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This has led to differing interpretations among various medical professions, causing controversy. The Korean Medical Association strongly opposes this provision, arguing that it would allow nurses to perform medical treatment and prescriptions, which are the exclusive duties of doctors, and could ultimately lead to situations where nurses open hospitals independently.

However, there is analysis that the enactment of the Nursing Act will not realistically lead to "nurses opening clinics independently," and that such concerns are exaggerated. An industry insider explained, "It is an excessive worry," adding, "Since doctors' guidance is always required, even if prescriptions are included within the scope, the possibility of independent clinic openings is low." The government also holds a similar stance, with Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Ryu Geun-hyuk responding "It is difficult" to related inquiries, indicating that nurse-run hospitals are practically unlikely.

There is another contentious point regarding the scope of duties. The bill defines nurses' duties as including "guidance on tasks performed by nursing assistants" and "guidance on tasks performed by care workers," thereby placing nursing assistants and care workers under the supervision and management of nurses. Hong Ok-nyeo, President of the Korea Nursing Assistant Association, expressed concern, stating, "If the Nursing Act is enacted, institutions with only one nursing assistant will have to dismiss the nursing assistant and mandatorily assign a nurse."

In response to these controversies, the ruling and opposition parties are discussing a consensus. It is reported that the consensus is leaning toward excluding "prescription" from the scope of nurses' duties and excluding nursing assistants and care workers from the scope of application of the Nursing Act.

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