The source of funding for the annual prizes that former Health Minister Katarzyna Sójka allocated just before leaving her post was asked by its chairman Bartosz Arłukowicz during the last meeting of the Parliamentary Health Committee. At issue was PLN 320,000 for directors of institutes under the ministry.
Heated discussion at the Parliamentary Health Committee. In the background, annual awards, in vitro and covid expenditure
Published Dec. 12, 2023 09:48
fot. Piotr Wójcik
Monday's meeting of the Sejm Health Committee was devoted to giving an opinion on the draft amendment to the National Health Fund's financial plan for 2023. During it, a heated discussion arose between deputies, which began with a question from the committee's chairman, Bartosz Arlukowicz, to former Health Minister Katherine Sójka.
- Did these rewards, which you recently allocated just before leaving your post as minister, come from the budget of the National Health Fund, or from the Ministry of Health? - Arlukovich asked.
Recall, a total of 320 thousand zlotys was to go to six managers of institutes under the Ministry of Health. The highest of the awards amounted to 80 thousand zlotys.
- The awards were allocated on the basis of a law from 2000. You also allocated awards based on the same law when you were health minister (Bartosz Arlukowicz was health minister from 2011 to 2015 - ed. note). These are awards assigned to directors, professors or heads of institutes. All of these payments were granted at the request of, among others, social councils. I had the right to do so, just as you had the right to do so, paying out 370 thousand zlotys to five directors," replied Katarzyna Sójka, but did not specify the source from which the money would come.
The former health minister also decided to ask a question of the chairman of the Parliamentary Health Committee. She was interested in issues related to IVF funding.
- At the previous health committee, you had a question that you did not answer. I personally support in vitro. At that time, you were asked whether you support that the in vitro method should also apply to homosexual couples. I wanted to repeat this question and ask you not to refer to social media or interviews for an answer," said Katarzyna Sójka.
Bartosz Arlukowicz recalled that the committee's meeting is devoted to the NFZ budget, and he has conveyed his views on IVF in numerous interviews.
Former Deputy Health Minister Janusz Cieszynski joined the discussion between Katarzyna Sójka and Bartosz Arlukowicz several times, and reacted with laughter to some of the things said in the room. Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Health Committee Rajmund turned to Janusz Cieszynski, recalling issues related to government spending during the pandemic.
- 70 million zlotys for ventilators, 700 million for covid hospitals. I would be ashamed to laugh so foolishly in your place," said Rajmund Miller.
- Consider what would have happened if, in a pandemic, the Sejm had passed a damaging draft prepared by you dismissing e-prescribing," retorted Cieszynski. - Go through the time I worked at the Ministry of Health and where Poland was in the COVID-19 rankings of deaths and infections. If you think I have misappropriated any money, say so, so that this matter can be dealt with in court," the former deputy health minister added.
