Since the end of January, the appointment of a former pharmaceutical lobbyist as head of the medical market supervisory authority has caused a stir: anti-corruption experts in particular have identified an incompatibility. But neither the Ministry of Health nor the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) wanted to recognize a conflict of interest at the time. Now it was surprisingly said that the replacement would not take place as planned. The person concerned was “stunned” and announced legal action.
Actually, Helga Tieben, the previous director for approvals and innovation at the pharmaceutical industry association Pharmig, should have started with the medical market regulator on April 1 and take over the lead in early June. As AGES confirmed late Friday night, nothing will come of it.
Rauch wants to advertise positions again
The Ministry of Health also confirmed that the staff decision will not be taken as planned. On Saturday, Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) added on radio Ö1 that the post would now be re-advertised: “After an objective investigation, AGES has now decided that the new appointment will not take place as planned, but will be re-advertised. “
At a time when vaccination programs are being blamed on the profit interests of pharmaceutical companies, one should take a closer look at such orders, which he did, Rauch said. He shares the concerns of the critics. AGES also confirmed the new vacancy for the management of the business park, but the time is still open.
Tieben: ‘Unobjective hate campaign’
Those affected were shocked and announced legal action. “Due to my many years of professional expertise in the national and European regulatory environment, I was selected as the most suitable candidate to lead the AGES medical market supervisory authority,” emphasized Tieben.
“Driven by individual political and institutional interests, there has been an incredible and irrelevant hate campaign against me that questions my entire healthcare work and my position as a proven expert in patient service.” stunned” that the AGES “cancels the contract two days before her entry into service despite the fact that I am personally independent”.
AGES reports major unrest
The day before, AGES also justified the move with the great commotion surrounding the order that has now been canceled: “There has been negative reporting in recent weeks due to the planned replacement of the business unit management of AGES medical market surveillance, causing great turmoil in this sensitive area”. , the AGES said in a written statement to the APA. “To counteract this, AGES has decided that the replacement would not take place as planned.”
Supervisor responsible for drug approvals
The Medical Market Supervisory Authority in AGES has more than 300 employees and is responsible for drug approval, clinical trials and drug safety oversight. The previous boss, Christa Wirthumer-Hoche, is retiring in the summer.
At the end of January, the Ministry of Health – then still under ex-minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens) – pointed out by means of a tender and a hearing committee that AGES had met the specifications in the selection process. And from AGES itself it was said at the time that Tieben was the most convincing in the selection process due to her professional and personal competence, for example in pharmaceutical law, and was recognized as an expert.
Source: Krone
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