Health Ministry Deputy Director Professor Itamar Grotto announced his resignation on Sunday, in what some in the healthcare system described as a "surprising move." Grotto, who held the position for 13 years, appraised Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and ministry Director-General Prof. Hezi Levy of his decision.
Grotto is the third senior Health Ministry official to resign since the COVID outbreak hit Israel in mid-March, following Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, his superior and the man credited for helping the ministry navigate the corona crisis during its first wave in Israel, and Prof. Siegal Sadetzki, the ministry's director of public health.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
While he was excluded from many of the major decisions in the ministry during the first wave of the coronavirus, Grottoo had a bigger impact on how the crisis was managed in the wake of Bar Siman-Tov's departure. Still, ministry insiders said he has again been pushed aside recently, potentially driving him to resign.
A senior health official described Grotto's impending departure as "a great loss" to the ministry.
"It seems the ministry is falling apart," he said, "It's amazing how many officials have quit so far. I think the fact that so many resigned during such a period does not bode well. It is not easy working in the Ministry of Health these days. The question is who is left who can still resign."
In a letter to Edelstein and Levy , Grotto said, "After 31 years of public service in the IDF and in the Health Ministry, and at the conclusion of a particularly demanding year during which I served on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus, I have decided to leave my position. I hope to embark on a new path."
Grotto stressed that "the professionalism and excellence of those who work in Israeli healthcare system has been revealed during this difficult time, but I believe in injecting fresh blood into the system. ... There have been disagreements along the way," he addmitted, "but prevailing over them throughout the years has been a common desire to overcome difficulties and to do our very best for the welfare of the public."
Looking ahead to the continued struggle against the coronavirus, Grotto said, "We still have a long way to go, and it won't be easy, but I am convinced that together, we will find solutions and learn how to overcome this virus, just as we overcame previous challenges."
Levy lauded Grotto's contribution at the Health Ministry, saying that, "Prof. Grotto has to his credit many years of work in the public health system, in the IDF, in academia, and of course in the Health Ministry."
Edelstein added that, "Apart from the fact that he is a first-rate professional, Prof. Grotto is a man with a huge heart who is ready to help anyone in his time of need. Prof. Grotto has been a great asset to the Ministry for many years and the citizens of Israel owe him a great deal."
It remains unclear what Grotto's next professional step will be. It appears he may be considering an offer from the World Health Organization.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
