"I can only confirm that contact has been made with the President of the Government. At this moment I can't give you more information. Let's wait until the end of the week," was Danijel Bešič Loredan's answer to MMC's question, on whether he was prepared to take over the Ministry of Health.
"The resignation of Minister Trop Skaza is a serious problem for the government, and especially for the Prime Minister. The current condition our healthcare system is in is also very serious. Our politics can’t control the system anymore. The mafia and different lobby groups are the ones which have complete control over our health system, which is chaotic," said Bešič Loredan and added that "the current situation is beneficial to lobby groups, which take advantage and do as they wish". "Sadly all the things we warned about in the Doctors' Initiative are happening right now, and nobody wanted to believe us then. Now all those responsible and all those that took part in the mess are saying the same things and ringing the alarm bells," is how Bešič Loredan assessed the situation.
Warned about corruption
Bešič Loredan, who is surgeon, was the first to warn about corruption in the Valdoltra hospital. He proposed many emergency measures to help the healthcare system through the Doctors' Initiative. Another surgeon, Erik Brecelj, publicly pointed to Bešič Loredan as the best possible candidate for health minister, under the current circumstances.
"I tendered my resignation"
"Yesterday evening I tendered my resignation to the President of the Government and to the PR at the Ministry of Health," is what the outgoing minister Alenka Trop Skaza told TV Slovenia's journalist Metka Majer.
They regret and understand the resignation
The PM's cabinet confirmed that they have received a letter of resignation from Alenka Trop Skaza. "I regret her decision to resign, as in the past month she took upon dealing with the problems in our health system with great determination. At the same time I understand her decision, as our political scene, media and society in general, are becoming ever more impatient. Individuals trying to change things to the better are smeared on a daily basis. Dr. Alenka Trop Skaza has become the target of daily attacks, despite the fact that she neither approved nor signed any controversial document," is what the cabinet of the PM wrote.
It is becoming all the more difficult to find quality individuals
"It is becoming all the more difficult to find quality individuals that would want to go into politics, where important decisions are being made for people. Even before you get the chance to do or change something, you become the target of disproportionate attacks. Continuing on that path will not bring our society the progress it desires," is what the cabinet added.