As Doctor and Nurse Assistant Strikes Become Real... Ministry of Health Strengthens Opposition to the 'Nursing Act'

KNA: "The Ministry of Health and Welfare is Actually Amplifying Conflicts Between Direct and Indirect Nurses"

'Nursing Act Enactment' [Image source=Yonhap News]

As strikes by doctors, nursing assistants, and others opposing the passage of the Nursing Act bill in the National Assembly plenary session have begun, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's stance against the Nursing Act is also becoming increasingly pronounced. The Korean Nurses Association (KNA) expressed deep regret, stating that “the Ministry of Health and Welfare is rather amplifying conflicts between professional groups.”

A point that shows the Ministry of Health and Welfare holds a negative view not only on the passage but also on the content of the Nursing Act bill is the three-page card news posted on its official SNS on the 30th of last month. First, it posed the question, ‘Why does the government express concerns about the passage of the Nursing Act bill?’ and answered, “In medical settings, trust and organic collaboration among medical and care professions such as doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, medical technicians, and care workers are essential,” while also stating, “A patient cannot be cared for by a nurse alone.” Additionally, in response to the question, ‘Isn’t the role of nurses necessary given the shortage of doctors?’ it said, “This can be addressed through a review of related laws such as the Medical Service Act, not the Nursing Act,” and added, “There are concerns that the Nursing Act might rather become an obstacle to care.”

Ministry of Health and Welfare Card News

The Ministry also raised issues with the Nursing Act itself. In response to the question, ‘Does the Nursing Act contain discriminatory provisions against nursing assistants?’ it answered, “The Nursing Act limits the educational background of nursing assistants to high school graduates or below. However, such educational restrictions are not found in other professions,” stating this. The Nursing Act defines the educational criteria for nursing assistants as graduates of specialized nursing high schools or those who have completed nursing academies. Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong met with Kwak Ji-yeon, president of the Korean Nursing Assistant Association, on the 30th of last month and said, “The legal provision setting an upper limit on the educational background of nursing assistants must be improved,” but the KNA rebutted this by saying, “The eligibility clause for nursing assistants was directly taken from the Medical Service Act. It was created by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2012 and has been maintained since.” Currently, most comments on the Ministry’s official SNS are negative, including remarks such as “The government, which should be fair, should not post biased content.”

The KNA raised its voice, saying, “The Ministry of Health and Welfare should immediately stop promoting the Nursing Act, which creates public anxiety and intensifies conflicts without accurate grounds.” The Nursing Act is a standalone law that separates regulations on nurses from the Medical Service Act and defines the scope of work and rights of nurses. Other professional groups, excluding nurses, oppose it, claiming it is a law solely for the benefit of the specific profession of nurses.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has indicated that if the Nursing Act, opposed by the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity composed of 13 health and medical professions, is enacted, confusion in the medical system could worsen due to strikes and other actions by these groups. Since the Nursing Act was passed in the National Assembly on the 27th of last month and strikes by doctors and nursing assistants became a reality, the Ministry has directly expressed a stance that is effectively against the Nursing Act. On the 1st, Park Min-su, the Ministry’s 2nd Vice Minister, said on CBS Radio, “There is concern that passing the law without perfect conflict resolution could pose problems for the public and safety,” and added, “Even without the Nursing Act, issues such as nurse workforce training and working conditions can be addressed through policy.” Minister Cho Kyu-hong also said on the 29th of last month at a meeting with care workers at a nursing home in Seoul, “The Nursing Act is not the optimal solution.”

'Repeal of the Nursing Act' [Image source=Yonhap News]

Starting from the 3rd, the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity began a partial strike involving leave and shortened consultations, and the Ministry is urging them to “protect the medical field.” The Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity plans to launch a full strike if President Yoon Suk-yeol does not exercise a veto on the Nursing Act at the Cabinet meeting presided over by the president on September 16.

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