KMA Demands Withdrawal of Medical Personnel Act Amendment, Citing 'Threat to National Health'

Nine medical organizations, including the Korean Medical Association (KMA), held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 18th, urging the immediate withdrawal of the amendment to the Medical Personnel Act.

The current law restricts the work of medical personnel to be performed only under the 'supervision' of a doctor. However, the amendment allows medical personnel to perform duties based on a doctor's 'prescription' or 'referral,' enabling them to operate more independently. The KMA argued that this amendment could directly harm public health.

The medical community stated that the amendment is unnecessary for the expansion of home-based rehabilitation services under the Integrated Care Support Act. They pointed out that home rehabilitation is already possible under a doctor's 'supervision' through ongoing government pilot programs. As alternatives, the medical community proposed allowing doctors to supervise from beyond the physical premises of medical institutions or introducing 'remote supervision based on information and communication technology (ICT).'