NIJZ director resigns, acting director appointed

Ljubljana-Milan Klek, director of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), submitted his resignation on Thursday because of “unbearable political pressure” by the new government. The NIJZ Council has appointed Deputy Director of Branko Gabrovec.

In this decision, Health Minister Daniel Besic Loredan respects false messages, fear mongering, and government hopes.

“Politics must not interfere with the appointment of NIJZ director,” Kurek said. The Director of NIJZ should serve a four-year term to ensure the development of the institution.

Now he decides to set aside because he “and raises doubts about NIJZ’s messages and recommendations,” fearing that staying would harm the agency.

Kurek had already resigned due to the appointment of a new position, the medical director of NIJZ, but was probably dismissed after the new government appointed a new member of the NIJZ board.

Gabrobeck, who holds a PhD in health care, has been with NIJZ since 2014. He is also the head of the Health Council of the Social Democratic Party (SD), one of the two coalition governments.