“I believe a professional politician, or a candidate with business administration or an economist’s experience has to take this job,” the Deputy Dean for Development at Riga Stradins University (RSU) wrote in a public release.
“The health care sector’s problems are fundamental. It’s one of the areas of public expenditure that has yet to see structural reforms. At the same time the industry’s specialists have been running the sector for a long time and have avoided making the necessary changes. The problems can no longer be solved by medical expertise. The health minister must be someone with proven leadership skills,” wrote Baumanis in his statement Thursday.
“It’s a political position, one needs to be prepared for a political career. I am not prepared to begin a long-term political career, which is why I must decline the offer to take on the health minister’s job,” he wrote.
As reported, Prime Minster Laimdota Straujuma accepted former Health Minister Ingrida Circene’s resignation Monday, following her protracted absence from Cabinet meetings and the handling of ministry affairs due to serious health problems.
Straujuma will continue talks with other possible candidates, whose names have not been revealed. She wished Baumanis continued success in his current position in the RSU administration.
