Current Health Minister, Ewa Kopacz

Ewa Kopacz defends herself against former Health Minister’s allegations of being ineffective.

Former Health Minister Marek Balicki has accused the current Health Minister, Ewa Kopacz, of negligence because she has not signed a contract to buy the swine flu vaccine yet.

Kopacz argues that the former Health Minister’s attack on her is a part of a political game – Balicki was a Health Minister in a government formed by the Democratic Left Alliance, which stands in opposition to the ruling Civic Platform. Kopacz recalls that while Balicki was in office in 2003, the number of flu cases was higher, no epidemic was announced, and Balicki only purchased Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, two weeks before leaving office in 2005.

The current Minister has urged Poles to remain calm and stem a 'flu panic' in Poland. Kopacz said that pharmaceutical companies are trying to “make quick money” and do not care about patients’ safety.

“If pharmaceutical companies prove that the vaccine is safe, we will sign the contract. However, at the moment, they want the government to pay for jabs without taking responsibility for them,” said Kopacz.  

Over 220 cases of swine flu have been reported in Poland. Today, due to the large number of absent students who have caught the flu virus, the State Music School in Bydgoszcz, northern Poland, has been closed down. (mg/mmj)

Source: TVN24