Korea health ministry to sanction unaccredited nursing hospitals, suspension possible
In short
South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Oct 6 it will pursue legal sanctions against nursing hospitals that fail to obtain mandatory accreditation, with penalties including correction orders, fines of up to 5 million won and suspension of operations. The ministry said some hospitals apply for accreditation but do not take part in the actual survey, or repeatedly reapply after being denied. Nursing hospitals have been required to apply for accreditation since 2013, and those denied or whose accreditation is revoked must reapply within 90 days.
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South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Oct 6 that it will pursue legal sanctions against nursing hospitals that have not obtained medical institution accreditation, adding that suspension of operations is among the possible penalties. Newsis reported the same move in its headline coverage on the same day, noting that a suspension of operations is possible for unaccredited nursing hospitals. [ 1 , 2 ]
The accreditation system evaluates patient rights and safety, activities to improve the quality of medical services, and organisation and personnel management, according to the ministry. Mandatory accreditation for nursing hospitals has been in force since 2013, and nursing hospitals are required by the Medical Law to apply for it. A hospital that receives conditional accreditation or is denied accreditation, or whose accreditation or conditional accreditation is cancelled, must have its head reapply within 90 days. The ministry said, however, that it has identified cases in which some nursing hospitals do not take part in the actual survey after applying, or simply reapply repeatedly after being denied accreditation. [ 1 ]
According to the ministry, nursing hospitals that fail to cooperate with an accreditation survey without a justified reason, or that remain unaccredited, can face a correction order under the Medical Law, and suspension of operations if that order is violated, as well as a fine of up to 5 million won. Gwak Sun-heon, a health and medical policy officer at the ministry, said the medical institution accreditation system is “a basic system for securing patient safety and the quality of medical services” and that the government will “respond strictly” to institutions that continue to fail to meet their legal obligations. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The ministry says the accreditation system exists to secure patient safety and medical service quality, and that it will respond strictly to institutions that keep failing their legal obligations. If the sanctions are carried through, hospitals that remain unaccredited face correction orders, fines of up to 5 million won or suspension of operations. The documents do not say how many hospitals are affected or when enforcement would begin.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on Oct 6 that it is pursuing legal action against unaccredited nursing hospitals, and suspension of operations is possible. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Under the Medical Law, the ministry can issue a correction order, suspend operations if the order is violated, and impose a fine of up to 5 million won. [ 1 ]
- Nursing hospitals have been subject to mandatory accreditation since 2013 and must apply for accreditation under the Medical Law. [ 1 ]
- A hospital that receives conditional accreditation or non-accreditation, or whose accreditation is cancelled, must reapply within 90 days. [ 1 ]
- The ministry said some nursing hospitals do not take part in the actual survey after applying, or simply reapply repeatedly after being denied accreditation. [ 1 ]
- Gwak Sun-heon, a health and medical policy officer at the ministry, said institutions that continue to fail their legal obligations will face strict measures. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced it is pursuing legal action against unaccredited nursing hospitals, with suspension of operations possible. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The ministry can, under the Medical Law, issue corrective orders, suspend operations when such an order is violated, and impose fines of up to 5 million won. [ 1 ]
- Nursing hospitals have had mandatory accreditation since 2013 and must apply for it; those denied accreditation or whose accreditation is cancelled must reapply within 90 days. [ 1 ]
- Gwak Sun-heon, a health and medical policy officer at the ministry, said the accreditation system is a basic system for patient safety and medical service quality and that institutions repeatedly failing legal obligations will be dealt with strictly. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- How many nursing hospitals are unaccredited or have avoided accreditation surveys, and when the sanctions would take effect. The documents describe the problem only in general terms and give no figures or enforcement timetable.
- Whether correction orders or other penalties have already been issued to specific hospitals. Only Yonhap describes the penalties available; no individual case is named.
- The number of accreditation applications refused or left incomplete. Single-source account in Yonhap with no figures provided.