Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Doctors' Strike: S.Korea Passes Bill, Permits Nurses To Perform Medical Procedures

POSTED ON August 28, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey •   VIEWS 76
South Korea doctors/ Photo credit: Le Monde

Following the ongoing doctors' strike, South Korea’s parliament has passed a bill allowing nurses to perform certain medical procedures typically carried out by doctors.

For years, nursing unions have pushed for legislation to improve working conditions, but have faced strong opposition from doctors and political deadlocks.

The strike, which began in February, is in protest of the government’s plan to increase medical school admissions to address a doctor shortage.

This has placed additional legal and workload pressures on nurses.

The new legislation will ensure the establishment of a legal grounds for physician assistant nurses to conduct specific procedures.

However, some aspects, such as easing qualifications for nursing assistants, were left for additional discussions, the government said.

The Korean Nurses Association welcomed the bill, saying it was the outcome of a 19-year effort, which is a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive nursing care system and achieving universal health coverage.

“Today’s passage opened the path to establish a nursing care system and realise universal health coverage, while laying the foundation for the state’s responsibility to train, dispatch and secure outstanding nursing personnel,” the group said in a statement.

Reacting, the Korean Medical Association, criticised the bill, warning it could lead to unlicensed medical practices and ultimately harm patients.

“The medical sector will become a mess due to the prevalence of illegal, unlicensed medical practices and confusion over the scope of work, and the damage will be passed on entirely to the ordinary citizens,” it said in a statement.

In a briefing, the country Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong expressed optimism that the legislation would bolster support for healthcare professionals and urged doctors to resolve the ongoing strike.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Appeal Court invalidates verdict against Rivers LG election
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria —The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja has nullified the judgement that prevent...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Trump picks Pam Bondi as Attorney General following Gaetz withdrawal
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

WASHINGTON, United States  — US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi, a v...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Federal Government partners IOM on migration policy review
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria —The federal government on Friday said no less than 6.1 million Nigerians are s...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
LASG takes voter education advocacy to community
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

LAGOS, Nigeria —The Lagos State Office of Political, Legislative and Civil Engagement org...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
US reject ICC arrest warrant for Isreali PM
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

Netherlands, United States —The United States has opposed the International Criminal Court&rsq...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Boko Haram: Senate urges military to free region under threat, attacks
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

BORNO, Nigeria  —The Senate, has called on the Nigerian military to deploy personnel to r...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Anti-party scandal: Accord Party expels ex-presidential candidate, 7 others
BY Benedicta Bassey November 21, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria —The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Accord Party on Thursday said it...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Sanwo-Olu presents 2025 budget to Assembly
BY Benedicta Bassey November 21, 2024 0

LAGOS, Nigeria —Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor has concluded plans to present th...

OUR CHANNELS:

OTHER ARTICLES ::

25th November, 2024
Tinubu eyes livestock sector reform, investment to curb farmer-herder clashes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to resolving the farmer-h...


Katsina Govt. applauds  NAF  strike against bandits, vows to sustain regional stability
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

KATSINA – The Katsina State Government has commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for successf...


Breaking : Supreme court voids National Lottery Act
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

The Supreme Court, on Friday, nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assemb...


ECB's renews integration call as trade war looms
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

European Central Bank, President Christine Lagarde renewed her call for economic integration across...


China expands Visa-free entry to more countries to boost economy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

On Friday, China announced that it would expand visa-free entry to citizens of nine more countries a...


FAO aims key outcomes at COP16 Saudi Arabia
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

The assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwae...


Illegal detention: Bizman slams N50m suit on NDLEA
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

NIGERIA — A businessman, Damilare Samuel, has slammed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency...


Appeal Court invalidates verdict against Rivers LG election
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria —The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja has nullified the judgement that prevent...


Man in Police net for defiling, impregnating 15-yr-old daughter
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

CALABAR, Nigeria —A 48-year-old man, Mallam Adamu Umaru, was paraded by the Zone 6 Police Comm...


Trump picks Pam Bondi as Attorney General following Gaetz withdrawal
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

WASHINGTON, United States  — US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi, a v...


Menu