«I inform you, after careful consideration, that the lack of harmony with the minister and the absence of responses from the Government force me to resign as appointed president of Aifa ‘hic et immediate». These are the words with which Giorgio Palù communicated his resignation from the presidency of the Italian Medicines Agency, contained in a message addressed to the directors of the Board of Directors and the directors of the regulatory body, today during an informal meeting. “I condemn the total lack of listening by the minister in the choices made for Aifa”, is one of the passages reported by Adnkronos.
«I find the contents of the Decree offensive and humiliating towards my person and my professional scientific profile» appointing me to the presidency of the Italian medicines agency Aifa. «In particular the one-year duration of the mandate conferred on me». Choice “at least equivocal on a legal level”. These are some of the passages of the message addressed today on the occasion of an informal meeting. Palù wanted to share his reflections on the recent nomination decrees. The one formalizing his appointment, signed by the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci on 9 February, provided for a one-year assignment to be carried out free of charge. And it is precisely this formulation that embittered Palù, in particular in the passage in which the short duration is explained.
«Proof of this – he writes – is the fact that my first role as president (I was already retired) took place with a five-year mandate from the previous Minister of Health. The restrictive interpretation of the law by the current minister is adopted exclusively towards me – he points out – in clear contrast with the appointment decrees just adopted by the same minister for pensioners over seventy called to direct the ISS (Higher Institute of Health) or to participate as consultants in the CSE», Single Scientific-Economic Commission, «of Aifa». «The lack of remuneration for the position certainly doesn’t worry me – Palù points out -. Considering myself to be at the service of the res publica, I have in fact already carried out the functions of president of Aifa for three years without receiving any compensation or attendance fee, even refusing to be the holder of the organisation’s credit card. However, I am surprised – he clarifies – by the disparity in treatment compared to other retired presidents of public bodies, beneficiaries, at the same time as the appointment, of law number 14 of 24 January 1978. A law which in my case, once again, does not apply”.
