Healthcare Sector Opposes Nursing Act with "Solidarity General Strike"... Government Responds Urgently

The Nursing Act bill was passed in the plenary session of the National Assembly, making major confusion in the health and medical sector inevitable. Immediately, 13 health and medical professional organizations, including the Korea Medical Association, raised the level of their struggle by mentioning a general strike, increasing the possibility of a future 'medical crisis.' The government has taken measures to minimize confusion among the public and in medical settings.

Lee Pil-su, President of the Korean Medical Association (center), is condemning the passage of the Nursing Act at the plenary session in front of the Korean Medical Association building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 27th.
[Photo by Korean Medical Association]

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The 'Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity,' consisting of 13 health and medical professional organizations including the Korea Medical Association and the Korea Association of Assistant Nurses, held a meeting of group leaders on the 27th after the enactment of the Nursing Act and announced, "We condemn the forced passage of the Nursing Act and the Medical License Revocation Act and have decided to launch a solidarity general strike." They added that they would start a partial strike as early as next week and announce the timing of the general strike once an appropriate time is determined.

Although each organization must go through formal procedures such as internal opinion gathering, it seems to be only a matter of time since they have repeatedly expressed their intention to launch a general strike if the Nursing Act passes. In fact, the Korea Medical Association's Emergency Countermeasures Committee conducted a survey from the 7th to the 19th of this month among its members on whether they support a general strike to block the Nursing Act, and about 83% responded in favor of the strike. The Solidarity also stated, "We have decided to further strengthen solidarity and immediately begin forming the 22nd General Election Planning Group."

Meanwhile, Lee Pil-su, president of the Korea Medical Association, began a hunger strike. President Lee said, "I am determined to risk my life and start an indefinite hunger strike to convey the urgency of the collapse of health and medical care and to protect the public's right to health," adding, "The Nursing Act contains serious issues that directly negatively affect the entire public, not just the interests of a specific profession. I demand that the National Assembly immediately acknowledge the mistake of forcibly passing the bill and devise concrete measures to revert it to the starting point."

As concerns about collective action in the health and medical sector grew, Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, immediately held an emergency executive meeting and instructed that all necessary measures be taken to prevent disruption to the public's medical use. In particular, he formed an 'Emergency Situation Inspection Team' led by Deputy Minister Park Min-su to monitor medical sites 24 hours a day. Minister Cho said, "The government is concerned that conflicts and backlash among health and medical professions may cause confusion in medical sites, endangering the health and safety of the public," and added, "We will do our best to prevent such incidents." He also asked, "While we fully understand the reasons why health and medical organizations oppose the Nursing Act, we urge them to faithfully perform their duties as healthcare professionals who prioritize the lives and health of the public and stay by the patients' side."

Meanwhile, the Korean Nurses Association welcomed the passage of the Nursing Act in the National Assembly plenary session and conveyed to President Yoon Suk-yeol, "We earnestly ask you to carefully examine the facts regarding the claims of some conflicting forces related to the enactment of the Nursing Act and make a wise judgment." This was in response to the ruling party's announcement that it would recommend President Yoon exercise the right to request reconsideration (veto) regarding the Nursing Act. The Nurses Association stated, "The Nursing Act, which the President promised through his campaign pledge wiki during his candidacy, will not only realize the universal health rights of the public and the public value of social care but also contribute to maintaining fairness and common sense in the medical community," and added, "Through the enactment of the Nursing Act, our nurses promise all citizens to respond to the advent of a super-aged society and changes in disease structure toward chronic diseases and to faithfully fulfill the responsibility for the public value of social care."

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