▲ Representatives of medical organizations affiliated with the Health and Welfare Medical Solidarity
The Medical Solidarity, which had predicted a general strike tomorrow (17th) in protest against the enactment of the Nursing Law, has decided to suspend the strike due to President Yoon Suk-yeol's veto of the Nursing Law.
The Medical Coalition, a group of 13 organizations, including the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Association of Nursing Assistants, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Medical Association Hall and said, "The 400 million members welcome the President's exercise of his right to re-election."
"The Solidarity General Strike scheduled for tomorrow will be put on hold until the National Assembly re-votes after deep anguish over the need to protect the people's right to health," the Medical Solidarity said, adding, "We will closely monitor the situation and respond until the bill is processed smoothly."
In response, the nursing association declared a political referendum and a re-push for the enactment of the law, and decided to discuss collective actions such as fighting for compliance.
Kim Young-kyung, president of the Nursing Association, said, "We will surely condemn the unrighteous politicians and bureaucrats who destroyed the Nursing Law through the activities of the General Election Planning Group," and "We will re-promote the Nursing Law in the National Assembly."
The Nursing Association will hold a representative meeting this afternoon to discuss the level and methods of collective action.
On the other hand, regarding the failure to veto the amendment to the Medical Law passed by the National Assembly along with the Nursing Act, the Medical Solidarity said, "We ask the National Assembly and the government to take action to revise the 'Medical Practitioner License Deprivation Act,' which violates the equality rights and freedom of profession of medical professionals without any reasonable reason."
The amendment to the Medical Law expands the grounds for disqualification and license revocation of medical practitioners to "cases in which a medical practitioner is sentenced to imprisonment or more without distinction of crime."
In a separate statement, the Korean Dental Association said, "The law on revoking medical practitioners' licenses is a double punishment and an excessive punishment," and "we will do our best to appeal to the Constitution and amend the law as soon as the law is promulgated in the future."
(Photo=Yonhap News)