"I never undervalued the health ministry."
"I intend to shake up the system, to raise the stature of the Ministry of Health, and to improve service to the public," newly appointed Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman told "Globes" today in his first comments on the wave of criticism of his appointment. He will be deputy minister of health with the status of a minister.
"Litzman added, "It's true that my party, United Torah Judaism, preferred the housing or social services portfolio, but I've never denigrated the Ministry of Health or the health system. Our faction in general would have preferred not taking a deputy minister post out of principle, not for reasons of prestige or honor."
Israel Medical Association president Dr. Yoram Blachar told "Globes" that he had nothing personal against Litzman, but he didn’t buy the idea of "a deputy minister with the authority of a minister". He said that he no intention of withdrawing his petition to the High Court of Justice over the fact that no full-time minister of health was appointed by the new government.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 6, 2009
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