Romanian health minister resigns amid corruption accusations, head of emergency service Raed Arafat becomes interim

Romania's health minister Vasile Cepoi resigned on Monday evening (October 1 ), after being accused by the Integrity Agency of conflicts of interest and crimes against the European Community's financial interests, as well as corruption while Cepoi was working in the Public Health Directorate in Iasi county.

Raed Arafat (in picture), sub secretary of State in the health Ministry, was named interim and will lead the ministry until December 9, after the elections, when a new minister will be named. Arafat, head of the SMURD emergency service, said he did not want to be named Health Minister and that he would only serve as an interim minister. Raed Arafat's name is linked to the street protests in Romiania earlier this year, as his resignation from the Health Ministry back then triggered a response from the people and was the spark that fueled the protests. He later returned to the Ministry. SMURD is the emergency rescue service based in Romania, run via a foundation, Fundatia pentru SMURD. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: gov.ro)