Parliament Committee Calls For Suprun’s Dismissal

Acting Health Minister Ulana Suprun says she has no plans to leave her post amid calls for her resignation from a parliamentary committee.

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Health Care approved a resolution, which described her performance as unsatisfactory and appealed to the government to dismiss her, on April 3.

Seven members of the committee voted in favor of the draft resolution, which was submitted to parliament more than a year ago in January 2017.

Photo credit: UNAIN

Opposition Bloc deputies Igor Shurma and Oleksandr Vilkul initiated the resolution.

Suprun has been a target for Ukraine’s medical authorities since her appointment in 2016,  when she announced plans to overhaul the country’s inefficient and corruption-riddled health care system.

Speaking to Ukrainian media, Suprun said she and her team saw this as evidence of an effective start to the medical reform process.

“And I'm grateful to all the people who wrote me, who supported me,” she said.

She said Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman also called her to convey his support.

Amid criticism of Suprun, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee chair Olga Bohomolets, said there has been a decrease in vaccination levels, disruption of international drug procurement and a reduction of state funding for treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Last December, Ukrainian TV channel Direct, quoting their own source, reported that Suprun planned to resign. The Acting Health Minister had denied the rumour last year.

READ MORE: Ukraine Approves Crucial Law On Healthcare