Conflict Between Doctors and Nurses Over the 'Ganho Law' Intensifies... What Are Your Thoughts?

Doctors and Nurses Both Protest Nursing Act
Nursing Act Passed Health and Welfare Committee Subcommittee on the 9th
Nurses "Need Nursing Act Reflecting Reality" Doctors "Nursing Act May Cause Medical System Collapse"

Chairman Lee Pil-su and members of the Korean Medical Association are shouting slogans condemning the enactment of the Nursing Act at the "National Doctors' Representatives Rally Condemning the Nursing Act" held on the 15th at the Seoul Medical Association building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] Conflict is intensifying as doctors and nurses fail to find common ground over the enactment of the 'Nursing Act' and raise their voices separately.

On the 15th, about 200 representatives of doctors nationwide held a 'National Doctors' Representatives Rally to Condemn the Nursing Act' at the 'Seoul Medical Association Hall' in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, opposing the enactment of the Nursing Act.

Lee Pil-su, president of the Korean Medical Association, said on the day, "The Nursing Act, which separates nursing from medical care and makes it an isolated, independent area of work, is an irrational law that harms public health and undermines the healthcare system," adding, "The Nursing Act only talks about improving the treatment of nurses. It only mentions benefits for nurses."

He continued, "Although it is said that parts of concern to the medical community were adjusted and excluded through bipartisan agreement, we can never accept it," emphasizing, "The 140,000 doctors strongly condemn the wrong Nursing Act that thoroughly neglects the lives and health of the people and destroys the healthcare order, and clearly state that the enactment of the Nursing Act is absolutely unacceptable."

Nurses belonging to the Korean Nurses Association and the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union held a rally in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 12th to mark the 51st International Nurses Day, urging the enactment of the Nursing Act.

On the other hand, the nursing side held the '2022 International Nurses Day Resolution Rally' in front of Gwanghwamun on the 12th to mark International Nurses Day. About 4,000 nurses and nursing students nationwide attended the rally and delivered three demands to the government and the National Assembly: enactment of the Nursing Act, limiting the number of patients per nurse to 12 for patient safety, and expanding medical school quotas and clarifying work scope to eradicate illegal medical practices.

Shin Kyung-rim, president of the Korean Nurses Association, said, "Medical organizations and nursing assistant organizations are spreading fake news that the passage of the Nursing Act bill in the subcommittee was a 'Democratic Party's outrage without discussion,'" criticizing, "The Nursing Act was promised to be promoted by all three major parties, and a bipartisan agreement on the Nursing Act adjustment was made at the subcommittee meeting held on the 27th of last month. The claims by doctors and nursing assistant organizations that the Nursing Act adjustment agreed upon by both parties was hastily passed are groundless."

Na Soon-ja, chairperson of the Health and Medical Workers' Union, said, "The enactment of the Nursing Act for the training and systematic placement of nurses, and the institutionalization of the patient-to-nurse ratio, as well as the improvement of nursing staff treatment and related legal system reforms, are urgent," adding, "The shortage of nursing staff has been a continuing problem for years but has been left unattended without fundamental solutions."

The Nursing Act, which clarifies nurses' duties and improves their treatment, passed the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee's bill review subcommittee on the 9th. The enactment has gained momentum as issues regarding nurses' treatment have been raised amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The contentious issue between doctors and nurses is related to the expansion of nurses' scope of work. The current Medical Service Act limits nurses' scope of work to "assisting medical treatment under the supervision of a doctor," meaning nurses can only perform medical acts within medical institutions. Nurses argue that although their work scope has recently expanded to long-term care institutions and elderly welfare facilities, the law does not reflect this reality, necessitating the enactment of the Nursing Act.

However, doctors worry that the Nursing Act may allow medical acts that infringe on doctors' licensed scope depending on interpretation and may also encroach on other medical professionals' work areas. They also argue that if the Nursing Act is enacted, other medical professionals will demand separate laws for their respective fields, potentially leading to the collapse of the medical system itself.

Amid divided public opinion, some citizens recall the doctors' strike in 2020 and express concern. Both doctors and nurses have declared they may consider strikes depending on the bill's passage. Office worker A said, "I understand both sides' positions. Also, seeing both doctors and nurses struggle during COVID-19, I don't want to take sides," adding, "However, I hope this conflict does not lead to medical strikes causing further harm to citizens."

Meanwhile, the Nursing Act still awaits deliberation by the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee plenary session, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the plenary session vote. Due to conflicts within the medical community and bipartisan agreements, it has not yet been submitted as an agenda item for the Health and Welfare Committee plenary session.

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