Will the Nursing Act Legislation Be Decided... With Divergent Moves, the Ball Is Now in the National Assembly's Court

The Nursing Act, which has sparked intense conflict in the healthcare sector, faced its "day of destiny" on the 27th. Although Speaker Kim Jin-pyo of the National Assembly blocked the bill from being tabled in the plenary session on the 13th, citing the need for further discussion, the positions of the nursing community, medical community, and government remained at an impasse for two weeks. With no additional mediation or agreement reached, the ball has ultimately been passed back to the National Assembly.

Two Voices on the Enactment of the Nursing Act in Front of the National Assembly.
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

The nursing community raised their voices urging the enactment of the original Nursing Act bill until the day before the plenary session. The National Movement Headquarters for the Promotion of the Nursing Act held a "Wednesday Rally Urging the Passage of the Nursing Act in the National Assembly" in front of the National Assembly, gathering about 20,000 people. Participants clearly stated their demand for the enactment of the Nursing Act and rejected the mediation proposal put forth by the ruling party and government.

Park Jun-yong, president of the Next Generation Nursing Leaders Association, who attended the event, said, "Comprehensive improvement of nursing workforce human rights and field conditions can only be resolved through the enactment of the Nursing Act." He added, "During COVID-19, the public was protected not only by nurses but also by doctors. However, during strikes, only doctors walked out. Now, other professions are following suit and threatening to strike as well. I ask everyone to consider what maturity in loving public health truly means."

The Korean Nurses Association (KNA) welcomed the government's "Comprehensive Support Measures for Nursing Workforce" announced on the 25th but emphasized that it is separate from the enactment of the Nursing Act. The KNA stressed, "We sternly demand that the ruling party and Ministry of Health and Welfare do not use this measure as a political tool to block the Nursing Act and diminish its significance."

Professional groups opposing the Nursing Act urged the KNA to accept the ruling party and government's mediation proposal. At a press conference held by the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity on the 25th, Lee Pil-soo, president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), criticized, "Unlike the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity, which accepted the government's and ruling party's mediation will and made a magnanimous concession, the KNA has rejected even reasonable mediation proposals, making it a foregone conclusion that resolving the issue through dialogue is no longer possible." Kwak Ji-yeon, president of the Korean Nursing Assistant Association, warned, "Dividing healthcare professions who should jointly care for public health and oppressing weaker professions is unacceptable to any citizen and will face political judgment."

The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity is pressuring the political sphere by threatening a general strike if the Nursing Act is enacted. In fact, the KMA Emergency Committee conducted a survey from the 7th to the 19th of this month among its members regarding support for a general strike to block the Nursing Act, with about 83% responding in favor of striking. The Nursing Assistant Association also conducted a leave-of-absence protest once and has made it a foregone conclusion that they will launch a general strike if the Nursing Act passes.

The government continued efforts to improve nurses' working conditions until the last moment. On the 26th, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, visited Yeongdeungpo Hospital to listen to nurses' opinions on the ground. This is interpreted as a determination to persuade the nursing community until the end through the "improvement of working conditions" card, as an extension of the previously announced comprehensive support measures for nursing workforce. Minister Cho said, "We will continuously reflect the opinions of frontline nurses and experts to ensure that the support policies for nursing workforce are effectively implemented on the ground and felt by those working in the field."

With no significant changes in the positions of various parties during the two weeks since the Nursing Act was deferred from the plenary session, attention is focused on what decision the National Assembly will make. The Democratic Party of Korea intends to process the Nursing Act and amendments to the Medical Service Act. Conversely, the People Power Party has decided to recommend that President Yoon Seok-youl exercise his veto power if the bill is forcibly passed, making a clash inevitable.

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