The discussion around the enactment of the Patient Basic Law, which aims to recognize patients as central actors in healthcare, is gaining momentum in South Korea.
The South Korean National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee is intensifying discussions on the Patient Basic Law, a proposed legislation that aims to establish the legal foundation for recognizing patients as central figures in healthcare policies. This law, spearheaded by Democratic Party lawmaker Nam In-Soon, is set to consolidate existing disjointed patient policies into a unified legal framework, ensuring the protection of patient rights, expanding participation of patient organizations in policymaking, and establishing a Patient Policy Committee. The law comes in response to growing emphasis on patient-centered values in healthcare, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare crises, underscoring the need for clear legal recognition of patient rights, which have historically been overlooked.
