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“What Do You Want, to Cry Out of Pity for You?” Rogobete Attacks Vlad Voiculescu After TV Appearance Criticism
🇷🇴 Romania /Conflict & Security

“What Do You Want, to Cry Out of Pity for You?” Rogobete Attacks Vlad Voiculescu After TV Appearance Criticism

From Adevărul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former Romanian Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete sharply criticized USR leader Vlad Voiculescu for complaining about Rogobete's frequent media appearances.
  • Rogobete defended his advocacy for healthcare personnel, accusing Voiculescu of misinformation and highlighting his own consistent support for medical staff.
  • Rogobete cited measures taken under his influence, including filling thousands of healthcare positions and increasing medical staff salaries, to counter Voiculescu's criticisms.

A public spat has erupted between former Romanian Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete and USR leader Vlad Voiculescu, centered on Rogobete's media presence and advocacy for healthcare workers. Voiculescu reportedly expressed frustration, stating he "can no longer open the television" without seeing Rogobete discuss the health system's problems. Rogobete responded fiercely, questioning Voiculescu's stance and accusing him of spreading misinformation.

What do you want, for me to cry out of pity for you?

— Alexandru RogobeteRogobete's sharp response to Vlad Voiculescu's complaints about his media appearances.

"What do you want, for me to cry out of pity for you?" Rogobete retorted in a social media post. He asserted his commitment to defending doctors and health system employees, a stance he maintained throughout his tenure as state secretary and health minister. Rogobete emphasized that his fight for medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, and administrative staff, is ongoing and unwavering.

Rogobete specifically referenced his opposition in January to a proposal by then-Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan to cut medical personnel's income by 10%. "You cannot ask people to keep an entire system alive and, at the same time, punish them financially," Rogobete stated, reiterating his consistent position. He contrasted this with Voiculescu, whom he dismissively called "the minister with zero results for the people."

You cannot ask people to keep an entire system alive and, at the same time, punish them financially.

— Alexandru RogobeteRogobete recalls his stance against proposed cuts to medical personnel's income.

To bolster his argument, Rogobete detailed recent measures aimed at strengthening the healthcare system. He pointed to approved memorandums in 2023 that facilitated the hiring of approximately 4,000 staff members in health units and local hospitals. Furthermore, he noted that in 2024, the government unblocked over 7,600 positions, and Emergency Ordinance no. 19/2024 increased medical staff salaries by an average of 20%, particularly benefiting nurses and technical-administrative personnel. Rogobete also addressed the issue of high salary expenditures in some hospitals, explaining it stems from outdated payment tariffs from the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), which have not kept pace with soaring costs for energy, medicine, and inflation.

the minister with zero results for the people.

— Alexandru RogobeteRogobete's dismissive description of Vlad Voiculescu's tenure as health minister.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevărul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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