Ion Bazac
Encyclopedia
Ion Bazac is a Romania
n physician and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party
(PSD), he was the Minister of Health
in the Emil Boc
cabinet between 2008 and 2009.
He is married to Camelia Bazac.
and after completing secondary studies at the city's Mihai Viteazul Mathematics-Physics High School in 1986, became a physician upon graduating from the Faculty of General Medicine at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
in 1996, although he has never practiced medicine. He holds a Master of Business Administration
from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, as well as degrees in Health and Social Services Administration and Public Health Management. He has co-authored several books on health care reform. From 1997 to 1999, he was a project management specialist and procurement coordinator for a World Bank
project investing in the Romanian health care system
. During 2000, he was adjunct director, then director, at the General Directorate of Health and Development Policies, helping start a new World Bank programme and focusing on Romania's European Union
accession as well. From December 2000, when the PSD (which he joined the following March) returned to office, until March 2002, he was a Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health and Family, responsible for European integration and international relations (including with the World Bank). He left the ministry when then-minister Daniela Bartoş, unsatisfied with his performance, demoted him to director general from secretary of state, and he refused to accept this new title. Subsequently, until July 2003, he was a Secretary of State at the Ministry of Water and Environmental Protection, with the same responsibilities as at the Health Ministry; this time, he opened negotiations with the European Commission
on the Environment chapter of the acquis communautaire (which Romania had to fulfil in order to join the EU).
Leaving government when the Environment Ministry was absorbed into the Agriculture Ministry, Bazac was, from November 2003 to July 2004, chairman of the board of Global Finance & Leasing, a non-banking financial institution. From July to December 2004, he returned as Secretary of State at the Health Ministry, coordinating the health budget and the European integration department. Shortly after leaving this position, he was questioned by the National Anticorruption Prosecution Office
in regard to the illegal transfer of 5 billion lei
(some $
150,000) to private companies during operations for procuring 2,000 air purifier
s for state-owned hospitals. During 2005 and 2006, he resumed his chairmanship at Global Finance & Leasing, until it was purchased by BNP Paribas Fortis
. Meanwhile, in 2005, he joined the PSD's national council, and he is also a member of its Brăila County
executive bureau. In 2007 and 2008, he worked for both Inox, a stainless steel
manufacturer, and as chairman of the board of Forza Rossa, Ferrari
's representative in Romania. Following the 2008 election
, Bazac was named Health Minister.
Among his priorities as minister were the maintenance and efficient allocation of a sin tax
, the introduction of a computerised system to track prescriptions and of a new pricing scheme for medicines and a growth in private health insurance and hospital competition for funds. He promised significant pay raises for physicians, and in May 2009 fired 73 hospital managers for failing to meet contractual benchmarks. He also had to deal with the impact of the 2009 flu pandemic
. Together with his PSD colleagues, Bazac resigned from the cabinet on October 1, 2009, in protest at the dismissal of vice prime minister and Interior Minister Dan Nica
.
In 2002, he was made a knight of the National Order for Merit.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n physician and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Romania)
The Social Democratic Party is the major social-democratic political party in Romania. It was formed in 1992, after the post-communist National Salvation Front broke apart. It adopted its present name after a merger with a minor social-democratic party in 2001. Since its formation, it has always...
(PSD), he was the Minister of Health
Ministry of Health (Romania)
The Ministry of Health of Romania is one of the fifteen ministries of the Government of Romania.The current Minister is Ladislau Ritli, member of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania ....
in the Emil Boc
Emil Boc
Emil Boc is the Prime Minister of Romania, having served since December 2008. In June 2004, he was elected Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, the largest city in Transylvania. Boc is also the president of the Democratic Liberal Party, who designated him as Prime Minister in 2008. On October 13, 2009, his...
cabinet between 2008 and 2009.
He is married to Camelia Bazac.
Biography
He was born in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
and after completing secondary studies at the city's Mihai Viteazul Mathematics-Physics High School in 1986, became a physician upon graduating from the Faculty of General Medicine at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a state-run health sciences University in Bucharest, Romania. It is the largest institution of its kind in Romania with over 2.865 employees, 1.654 teachers and over 4.800 students...
in 1996, although he has never practiced medicine. He holds a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, as well as degrees in Health and Social Services Administration and Public Health Management. He has co-authored several books on health care reform. From 1997 to 1999, he was a project management specialist and procurement coordinator for a World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
project investing in the Romanian health care system
Healthcare in Romania
Health care in Romania has lower standards than in the rest of the Union. Although everyone in the urban area has access to fast medical assistance, in some rural areas access may be limited. For 2012, the allocated budget spending in the healthcare sector is 12 billion €, or roughly 5% of the GDP....
. During 2000, he was adjunct director, then director, at the General Directorate of Health and Development Policies, helping start a new World Bank programme and focusing on Romania's European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
accession as well. From December 2000, when the PSD (which he joined the following March) returned to office, until March 2002, he was a Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health and Family, responsible for European integration and international relations (including with the World Bank). He left the ministry when then-minister Daniela Bartoş, unsatisfied with his performance, demoted him to director general from secretary of state, and he refused to accept this new title. Subsequently, until July 2003, he was a Secretary of State at the Ministry of Water and Environmental Protection, with the same responsibilities as at the Health Ministry; this time, he opened negotiations with the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
on the Environment chapter of the acquis communautaire (which Romania had to fulfil in order to join the EU).
Leaving government when the Environment Ministry was absorbed into the Agriculture Ministry, Bazac was, from November 2003 to July 2004, chairman of the board of Global Finance & Leasing, a non-banking financial institution. From July to December 2004, he returned as Secretary of State at the Health Ministry, coordinating the health budget and the European integration department. Shortly after leaving this position, he was questioned by the National Anticorruption Prosecution Office
National Anticorruption Directorate
National Anticorruption Directorate , formerly National Anticorruption Prosecution Office , is the Romanian agency tasked with preventing, investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offenses that caused a material damage higher than €200,000 or whose value of the involved amounts or goods is...
in regard to the illegal transfer of 5 billion lei
Romanian leu
The leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL...
(some $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
150,000) to private companies during operations for procuring 2,000 air purifier
Air purifier
An air purifier is a device which removes contaminants from the air. These devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke...
s for state-owned hospitals. During 2005 and 2006, he resumed his chairmanship at Global Finance & Leasing, until it was purchased by BNP Paribas Fortis
BNP Paribas Fortis
BNP Paribas Fortis is the commercial name of Fortis Bank S.A./N.V., an international bank with its focus in Belgium since the purchase of 75% of the shares of the bank by BNP Paribas. It was formerly, together with Fortis Bank Nederland, the banking arm of Fortis...
. Meanwhile, in 2005, he joined the PSD's national council, and he is also a member of its Brăila County
Braila County
Brăila is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Brăila.- Demographics :In 2002, Brăila had a population of 373,174 and the population density was 78/km².*Romanians – 98%*Romas, Russians, Lipovans, Aromanians and others....
executive bureau. In 2007 and 2008, he worked for both Inox, a stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
manufacturer, and as chairman of the board of Forza Rossa, Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
's representative in Romania. Following the 2008 election
Romanian legislative election, 2008
Legislative elections were held in Romania on November 30, 2008. The Democratic Liberal Party won most seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, although the alliance headed by the Social Democratic Party won a fractionally higher vote share.-Electoral System:President Traian Băsescu...
, Bazac was named Health Minister.
Among his priorities as minister were the maintenance and efficient allocation of a sin tax
Sin tax
A sin tax is a kind of sumptuary tax: a tax specifically levied on certain generally socially proscribed goods and services. These goods are usually alcohol and tobacco, but also include candies, soft drinks, fat foods and coffee, while services range from prostitution to...
, the introduction of a computerised system to track prescriptions and of a new pricing scheme for medicines and a growth in private health insurance and hospital competition for funds. He promised significant pay raises for physicians, and in May 2009 fired 73 hospital managers for failing to meet contractual benchmarks. He also had to deal with the impact of the 2009 flu pandemic
2009 flu pandemic
The 2009 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the second of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus , albeit in a new version...
. Together with his PSD colleagues, Bazac resigned from the cabinet on October 1, 2009, in protest at the dismissal of vice prime minister and Interior Minister Dan Nica
Dan Nica
Dan Nica is a Romanian engineer and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party , he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Galaţi County since 1996...
.
In 2002, he was made a knight of the National Order for Merit.