Final Word from Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The mystery of why David Rath was so intent on remaining president of the Medical Chamber was never resolved. Some think it was an issue of job security;a health minister's life can be quite short. Some think it was more because of his related activities at the medical association, such as the chamber magazine, with its drug ads and their seeming relation to decisions of the drug-categorization committee. CEO Jiřina Musílková of VZP insurer hinted at this on ČT24. There's now speculation that Rath's efforts to force Musílková out of VZP are a prelude to installing himself in her position before the elections. Dr. Martin Stransky argued in LN that Rath went to illegal means to be elected Chamber president. Usurping the post of CEO of VZP, Stransky said, would fit into Rath's pattern of behavior. And there's much more money and power at VZP than elsewhere, he noted. [Czech Republic Lidové noviny Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna Tempus Medicorum]