On 15 February Dr. Miklós Szócska, state secretary responsible for health policy, held a meeting for the leading officers of health institutions and background institutions financed by the state. One of the focuses of the discussion was the issue of the announcement of jobs published in the Health Gazette last Friday.

As far as the issue is concerned, the state secretary said that that the moment had arrived when, based on professional considerations, new officers should be employed in leading positions of the institutions concerned. All this does not mean that the whole management will be replaced at every place, as competition is open and professional applicants are welcome.

At the same time Miklós Szócska expressed apologies to all the persons who were informed of the announcements only by the gazette.

The act on the legal status of public servants was amended on 1 January 2011. The transitory provision of the act allowed the operator to review the jobs and positions occupied by leading officers for an indefinite period of time on 1 January and to announce new tenders for said positions by 28 February 2011. Simultaneously with all this the Ministry of National Resources also invited competitions for the jobs of other leading officers not affected by the temporary provision.

During the meeting the state secretary promised to hold regular meetings for the professional field to facilitate the fulfillment of professional duties in cooperation with the operators of the institutions, on the basis of the concepts worded by the Semmelweis Plan.

(State Secretariat responsible for Health Policy)