Yoon: "Nursing Act Causes Conflicts Among Related Agencies and Anxiety About Public Health"

Yoon Criticizes Nursing Act in Cabinet Meeting Opening Remarks
Politics and Economy Take Backseat to Public Health
Public Health Can Be Protected Through Collaboration Among Health Professions

President Yoon Suk-yeol criticized the Nursing Act bill on the 16th, stating that "it is causing excessive conflicts among related professions, and the deinstitutionalization of nursing work is causing public anxiety about health."

On the same day at 10 a.m., President Yoon presided over the first Cabinet meeting of the second year of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration at the Yongsan Presidential Office and made these remarks during his opening address.

President Yoon first mentioned, "Public health is something that cannot be exchanged for anything else. Politics, diplomacy, economic and industrial policies all come after public health," adding, "Public health can be properly protected through collaboration among various medical professional fields."

He particularly pointed out, "It is regrettable that such social conflicts and anxieties have not been resolved through sufficient consultation among professions and thorough deliberation in the National Assembly."

He also urged, "I hope the Cabinet members listen to the explanation from the Minister of Health and Welfare, the responsible ministry, and provide useful discussions along with good opinions."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Nursing Act bill aims to separate nursing from the Medical Service Act and expand the scope of nursing activities to include the community. It also includes provisions for appropriate working hours and nurses' rights to demand improved treatment.

Nursing organizations have argued that the Nursing Act is necessary to change the role of nurses in response to social changes such as aging, while other medical professional groups, including doctors, oppose it, claiming that strengthening nurses' authority and expanding their roles could lead to the establishment of nurse-run hospitals and cause confusion in the medical community.

Previously, the People Power Party and the government, through a high-level party-government council, recommended that President Yoon exercise his veto power, stating that "the Nursing Act bill is a political bill that holds public health and life hostage."

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