Evis Sala's resignation: did he cost the "pharmaceutical supercompany" the minister's job?

Announced in the media for days, Evis Sala's resignation was not entirely unexpected. Her name had been mentioned earlier for a possible departure from the government.

The reason for the resignation, communicated during the government meeting, is related to Sala's commitment to return to her academic projects.

But her departure comes at a time when the spotlight is also on a government bill to create a state-owned "supercompany" of medicines and medical devices, an initiative that has sparked debate.

But what does this "supercompany" foresee?

The draft law aims to create a joint stock company with 100% state capital, which will take on a number of functions in the public health system supply chain.

According to the reported draft, the company will plan needs for medicines and medical equipment, develop procurement procedures, negotiate prices, purchase and import medicines, and handle their storage, transportation, and distribution.

Its competencies will not be limited to supplying public institutions. The company is expected to have the opportunity to create partnerships with the private sector, participate in other companies and develop joint projects in this field.

This initiative has previously been accompanied by reports of clashes between Prime Minister Edi Rama and Evis Sala.

According to reports published in August, Sala had expressed reservations about the draft and refused to sign it in its proposed form. According to these reports, Rama had given the minister until September to finalize the draft law.

However, there is no official confirmation yet that Sala's stance on this bill was the reason for her resignation. The publicly communicated reason is related to her academic commitments.

Këlliçi: Resignation is related to the "supercompany"

Democratic MP Belind Këlliçi has directly linked Sala's resignation to the project for the creation of this society.

In his reaction, Këlliçi claims that Israeli businessman Sani Sanilevich is behind the initiative, linking the project to private interests in the health sector.

According to the Democratic MP, the approval of the draft law would bring about a large concentration of powers in a single structure.

"Practically, it is about the creation of a parallel Ministry of Health, but with absolute power that will most likely be controlled by Edi Rama's close friend, the Israeli Sani Sanilevich, who is also the honorary consul of Albania, with Rama's own signature. And not just the establishment of a private hospital, but taking control of the entire sector, with the society that Edi Rama seeks to establish," writes Këlliçi.

"Power concentrated in one hand"

Journalist Osman Stafa has also been critical of the project , raising concerns about how the new structure will function.

The staff emphasizes that the company will not only deal with the purchase of drugs, but with a wide part of the process, including needs planning, tenders, price negotiation, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, maintenance of medical equipment and management of strategic reserves.

He raised the question of which country in the European Union has a state-owned company with such a concentration of powers.

"In which country in the European Union is there a state-owned company with so much power concentrated in one hand? According to the draft law, the Albanian company will not only deal with the purchase of medicines. It will plan needs, make tenders, negotiate prices, purchase medicines and equipment, store and distribute them... And, with the approval of the government, state assets can also be used as a guarantee, collateral or mortgage for financing," writes Stafa.

Sala's reaction: I have international commitments

After the resignation, Evis Sala reacted through a statement, confirming that her departure from the government cabinet is related to new international commitments in her field of expertise.

"Today was my last meeting as a member of the government cabinet, as I have accepted several important international commitments in my field of expertise: oncology - artificial intelligence - innovation," Sala writes.

Sala's reaction to her resignation was formal and similar to the statements that usually accompany government departures. She listed the professional reasons for the decision and, in the following, thanked the Prime Minister for his trust and support. 

However, in her statement, Sala does not mention the draft law on the “pharmaceutical supercompany” nor the reports of reservations or clashes regarding this initiative. Thus, while the official reason for the resignation is related to her new international commitments, the question remains open whether or not the “pharmaceutical supercompany” played a role in her departure from the government./ Politiko.al