Senior health official resigns over controversial trip to South Africa

One of the Regional Health Fund officials, deputy chief health inspector Seweryn Jurgielaniec, who went on a controversial trip to South Africa, has resigned from his position. The Health Minister has also asked the Prime Minister to dismiss the general director of the Central Pharmaceutical Inspectorate. Other Health Fund representatives admitted in a meeting with Deputy Minister Aleksander Neuman and head of Health Insurance Supervisory Office Michal Zemojda, that their journey was unfortunate. The minister was especially concerned about the fact that one of the beneficiaries of the training trip organized by German GVG was a representative of pharmaceutical concern Roche, which may lead to suspicions that a company from the pharmaceuticals sector covered the cost of the whole undertaking. The health fund directors who took advantage of the trip are expected to present a detailed explanation and comments on the issue within a week. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) M.K.