Łukašenka appoints new health minister

January 25, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has appointed Alaksandar Chadžajeŭ as health minister, his press office reports.

“We have always renewed the composition of both the government and local authorities ahead of the parliamentary and presidential elections . . . so that people could see who we would work with when making decisions and whether we should trust this team,” the Belarusian ruler said.

He told the new minister to “put an end” to nepotism from the health system.

Former minister Dźmitryj Pinievič will be given another job, Łukašenka said, describing him as “a young and energetic man.”

In charge of the health ministry since November 2020, Pinievič was known for a controversial politically-motivated decision to fire prominent cardiologist Alaksandar Mročak. His tenure was marred by reprisals and the emigration of healthcare professionals.

Chadžajeŭ had worked as a pathologist before switching to psychiatry in 2008. In May 2021, he was named as head of the National Center of Mental Health after working at the health ministry.