Raed Arafat, founder of the Romanian Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD), will return as Under Secretary of State in Romania’s Health Ministry, according to Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc. He resigned from the position last week, after his dispute with President Traian Basescu and other officials from the Ministry of Health on the upcoming health reform. Read more about his resignation here and more about the draft law here. However, the draft law has since been withdrawn. His resignation was followed by street protests.

The previously proposed health law, which, if enforced, would have brought changes to the country’s emergency health system triggered the protests in Romania. Under-secretary of state Raed Arafat’s resignation from the Health Ministry over the planned changes to the system acted as a catalyst for public protest over the proposed changed. A new healthcare law will be debated at the Health Ministry.

Raed Arafat was appointed Under Secretary of State for Health on August 23, 2007, by a decision signed by the Prime Minister then, Calin Popescu Tariceanu. In the ministry, Raed Arafat was in charge of emergency medicine. He is also the coordinator of the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD).

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Romania’s Govt.)