The distaste remains

In fact, little was said about these changes and desired directions on Tuesday. Rather, deputies focused on what was, and were divided only by their assessment of the past. The current opposition praised past events, those currently in power did not leave a dry eye on them, or, as opponents would say, looked for a hole in the whole.

This is not overly difficult. The Medical Research Agency has been asking for problems from the beginning, stinging from the momentum of its activities. Unfortunately, not only in the substantive layer (specifically, not primarily in the substantive layer), but in all the accompanying dimensions, from PR to politics included. Because it is difficult to abstract from the entanglement of the scientific community in not always pure politics and - to some extent even involving science for the needs of current politics. This, sooner or later, always comes back and always takes revenge - and one is left with a distaste that people with such an enormous scientific, research, clinical output find themselves in the middle of a political wrangle.

A separate issue is whether surely the Health Committee is the right place to wash dirt. What would it take for an MP asking questions to "extract" from a representative of the NIK, ABM or MZ the answer he wants to hear (especially if it is an answer he knows well)? There is the NIK report, with conclusions on the basis of which prosecutions can (should?) be initiated. If the Ministry of Health sees the need to further check potential irregularities, it can always order an audit.

Moreover, Tuesday's meeting makes one look with some trepidation at the work plan adopted by the Health Committee - dominated by "investigative" topics. The Health Committee does not have investigative powers, it cannot summon witnesses, it has documents at its disposal (just in the case of ABM, no sensations were uncovered by the deputies, no crossfire of questions by Chairman Bartosz Arlukowicz exposed anything we didn't know).

Hold the past accountable - yes. Bring those responsible for proven intentional irregularities to bear the consequences, perhaps including criminal ones - by all means. But this should be handled by competent bodies, not MPs, whose main task should be to create a legal framework, solutions, improving the quality of the health care system.