Officially: there is a new deputy minister for medicines. Minister Leszczyna: “I am glad that he will be responsible for medicines policy”

Just before the official presentation of the new list of reimbursed drugs, which is to be in force from 1 July 2024, Minister Izabela Leszczyna officially introduced Deputy Minister Marek Kos as the person currently responsible for drug policy and supervising the Department of Drug Policy. – I am very glad that Deputy Minister Marek Kos will head the Department of Drug Policy and Pharmacy. I am looking forward to this cooperation in a new area – said Minister Izabela Leszczyna.

During the conference, Deputy Minister Marek Kos presented the new list of reimbursed medicines, which will be in force from July 1, 2024.

Asked by “Wprost” about the priorities he sets for himself and the Department of Drug Policy and Pharmacy that he manages, as well as the directions in which the Department will head, he replied that he is perfectly aware that the bar is set high, but he really likes to take on difficult challenges.

– I want to thank Minister Maciej Miłkowski, because I have to say that it is difficult for me to maintain the work of the department at this level, the bar is set high. But I like difficult tasks, I would like to continue this mission that Minister Miłkowski started. We have difficult tasks ahead of us, a lot of work, but I would like the effects of our work to be as the Minister has just presented. The list of reimbursed medicines is growing, the list is growing systematically and I hope that it will continue to be so – announced Deputy Minister Marek Kos.

Deputy Minister Marek Kos is a doctor, he completed postgraduate studies in MBA at the Lublin University of Technology and MBA in health care management at the Medical University of Lublin. He is a specialist in general surgery and public health. He worked, among others, in the emergency medical service in Lublin, as well as a medical expert in the Kraśnik branch of the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund and a court expert at the District Court in Lublin. He was also the director of the Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz and an assistant professor at the Department and Institute of Public Health at the Medical University of Lublin. He is a lecturer in health care management and public health. He was also a member of the presidium of the Lublin Medical Chamber in Lublin and was the provincial vice-chairman of the Polish National Trade Union of Physicians.

On January 4, 2024, he was appointed Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health, responsible for, among other things, safety and emergency medical services. Since June 14, 2024, he has been responsible for drug policy.