Romanian Cantacuzino Institute Employees Stage Spontaneous Protest Over Planned Layoffs

Union leader Dumitru Viezureanu told MEDIAFAX Thursday employees are also displeased that the Government did not allot to the institute the promised 1 million lei (EUR1=RON4.1347) to pay salaries.

Viezureanu said the institute's employees were compelled to pay RON80 billion because the seasonal flu vaccines has not yet been produced, although they bear no fault.

The National Medicine Agency in February withdrew license for vaccine producer Cantacuzino Institute to market injectable medicines, including vaccines, as the institute was no longer in line with the EU good manufacturing practice regulations.

The institute pledged to solve all issues regarding vaccine manufacturing, check monitoring equipment and finish infrastructure works by April 15. The National Medicine Agency said it would grant the institute a production authorization if good manufacturing practice problems were tackled.

In March, the Government allotted the Cantacuzino Institute funds totaling RON1 million to carry out infrastructure works and check vaccine production parameters so that it can get authorization to continue activity.

Health Minister Cseke Attila Friday dismissed Cantacuzino Institute general manager Radu Iordachel, as the institute failed to solve these problems.

The minister's decision was triggered by a report drawn up by the Romanian National Medicine Agency, which showed that the plan to weed out problems regarding the vaccine production was not totally carried out and not all required measures were implemented.

The minister appointed Gabriel Ionescu general manager of the institute.

Cseke said the institute currently produces no vaccines, as it didn't obtain production authorization. He added that the seasonal flu vaccine production might start on May 15, as many of the issues in this case were solved.

Ionescu told MEDIAFAX Thursday that authorities did not ask him to lay off employees, adding the institute must pay RON80 billion for not producing the seasonal flu vaccine.

Ionescu added that, by Monday, the institute must find solutions to make vaccine production more efficient and pay back the RON80 billion.

Ionescu and Health Minister personal adviser Geza Molnar met for talks on the situation the institute is facing.

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