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국회 공공의료 국정조사 특위는 진주의료원 폐업 사태와 관련해 특위의 동행명령에 불응한 홍준표 경남도지사는 국회에서의 증언 및 감정에 관한 법률’ 위반 혐의로 검찰에 고발키로 10일 합의하고 해당 내용을 12일 전체회의에서 의결키로 했다.
홍 지사는 앞서 이번 사태와 관련해 국회 공공의료 정상화 국정조사의 증인 출석을 거부한 바 있다.
홍 지사는 의원들의 동행요구에 대해 10일 오후 경남도의회에서 “2008년 BBK사건 당시 동행명령을 도입했다가 위헌 판결이 난 바 있다”며 “국회의원들이 이것도 모르고 5년 이하의 징역을 말하는데 국회가 무슨 사법기관이냐”고 맞대응했다.
특위 측은 이에 “특별법에 의한 참고인의 동행명령은 위헌이지만 국회법상 증인에 대한 동행명령 규정은 여전히 살아있다. BBK 사건 이후에도 모두 4차례 동행명령이 발부됐고, 2011년 저축은행 비리 국조에서는 동행명령에 불응한 증인을 고발조치를 한 바 있다”고 반박했다.
한편 홍 지사의 이러한 행보에 대해 야당뿐 아니라 여당 의원들까지도 비판의 목소리를 내고 있다.
‘공공의료 정상화를 위한 국정조사 특위’ 정우택 위원장(새누리당)은 이날 특위 전체회의에서 “지사는 정치적 야망과 욕망을 충족시키는 자리가 아니다”며 “홍 지사도 진주의료원 폐업을 하면서 자기 살을 도려내는 아픔을 느끼고, 국민들에게 폐업을 할 수밖에 없다는 것을 납득시켜야 진정한 정치인이 될 수 있다”고 말했다.
홍 지사는 지난달 계속되는 적자, 노조파업, 그리고 정치적 논란을 이유로 진주의료원 폐업을 강행했다.
이와 같은 조치에 국회와 야당 시 의원들은 공공의료원에 시장 논리를 개입시켰다며 강한 비판을 가했고, 보건복지부 또한 박근혜 정부의 공공의료정책과 대립한다며 반대 목소리를 냈다.
박근혜 정부는 대선 때 전국 공공의료원에 대한 정부 투자를 확대한다는 공약을 내건 바 있다. (코리아헤럴드)
<관련 영문 기사>
Governor fights on all fronts over closure of loss-making hospital
By Cho Chung-un
Lawmakers are set to file a complaint with the prosecution against South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo after he refused to attend a parliamentary hearing on his closure of a provincial public hospital.
The Assembly’s special committee on the inquiry into the current status of public medical institutions, which is looking into the shutdown of Jinju Medical Center, will determine whether to take legal action against the political bigwig on Friday.
After Hong refused to present himself before the committee as a witness, the panel’s chairman issued a legally binding order of attendance earlier this week.
Hong, the former chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, again refused, citing a 2008 Constitutional Court ruling against such an order. The order had been issued by an independent counsel that was investigating a financial scandal involving former President Lee Myung-bak.
The committee countered that the verdict pertained to a case probed by a special prosecution team and that the regulation in general was still legally effective.
Plagued by snowballing losses, labor strikes and heated political disputes, Hong closed the medical center last month.
Councilors from the ruling Saenuri Party railroaded the bill for its closure despite fierce protests by the main opposition Democratic Party.
It was approved by a majority of councilors from the ruling party only five minutes after it was put to a vote during an emergency meeting at the provincial assembly.
The governor has been keeping his head up on his closure plan in spite of widespread criticism for abandoning the hospital’s public role.
Union members as well as lawmakers and council members from opposition parties had resisted the plan, blaming the provincial government for applying market principles to the public hospital that was set up to deliver social services to people in the region, not to seek a profit.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare also voiced its opposition to the plan as it contradicted President Park Geun-hye’s ambitious public health projects.
President Park vowed during her presidential campaign that she would expand state investment in cash-strapped public hospitals nationwide to help them continue their public role to serve low-income and elderly citizens.
Health Minister Chin Young called on Hong to reconsider the plan.
Despite pressure from the public, political circles and the central government, the governor carried out his vision.
There are a total of 34 regional public hospitals with a combined yearly deficit of 65.6 billion won ($58 million).
(christory@heraldcorp.com)
Governor fights on all fronts over closure of loss-making hospital
By Cho Chung-un
Lawmakers are set to file a complaint with the prosecution against South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo after he refused to attend a parliamentary hearing on his closure of a provincial public hospital.
The Assembly’s special committee on the inquiry into the current status of public medical institutions, which is looking into the shutdown of Jinju Medical Center, will determine whether to take legal action against the political bigwig on Friday.
After Hong refused to present himself before the committee as a witness, the panel’s chairman issued a legally binding order of attendance earlier this week.
Hong, the former chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, again refused, citing a 2008 Constitutional Court ruling against such an order. The order had been issued by an independent counsel that was investigating a financial scandal involving former President Lee Myung-bak.
The committee countered that the verdict pertained to a case probed by a special prosecution team and that the regulation in general was still legally effective.
Plagued by snowballing losses, labor strikes and heated political disputes, Hong closed the medical center last month.
Councilors from the ruling Saenuri Party railroaded the bill for its closure despite fierce protests by the main opposition Democratic Party.
It was approved by a majority of councilors from the ruling party only five minutes after it was put to a vote during an emergency meeting at the provincial assembly.
The governor has been keeping his head up on his closure plan in spite of widespread criticism for abandoning the hospital’s public role.
Union members as well as lawmakers and council members from opposition parties had resisted the plan, blaming the provincial government for applying market principles to the public hospital that was set up to deliver social services to people in the region, not to seek a profit.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare also voiced its opposition to the plan as it contradicted President Park Geun-hye’s ambitious public health projects.
President Park vowed during her presidential campaign that she would expand state investment in cash-strapped public hospitals nationwide to help them continue their public role to serve low-income and elderly citizens.
Health Minister Chin Young called on Hong to reconsider the plan.
Despite pressure from the public, political circles and the central government, the governor carried out his vision.
There are a total of 34 regional public hospitals with a combined yearly deficit of 65.6 billion won ($58 million).
(christory@heraldcorp.com)
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