Board of Directors of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) elected new leadership on Tuesday evening
Vienna (OTS) – The former Austrian Minister of Health Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner has been nominated as the new director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for a five-year term. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have actively supported the candidacy in recent months. Health Minister Johannes Rauch and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed the nomination: “Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner combines medical expertise on infectious diseases and political experience, which is extremely important for leading an international authority.” ***
The Board of Directors of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Tuesday evening appointed the former Austrian Minister of Health and doctor Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner nominated as new director. The Administrative Board is composed of representatives of the 27 member states, three representatives of the European Commission and two representatives appointed by the EU Parliament. Before her official appointment, Rendi-Wagner must be confirmed by the European Parliament. The agency is largely responsible for preventing and combating infectious diseases in the EU and, last but not least, played a central role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Minister Johannes Rauch: “The ECDC makes an indispensable contribution to the fight against communicable diseases in the EU. With a mandate that will only be expanded in 2022, the center is currently in a growth process. I am pleased that this important health authority with Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner has elected a highly qualified candidate to the management. In addition to her years of political experience, she impresses with her comprehensive professional expertise in the field of epidemiology and also has the necessary management skills. I am convinced that Pamela Rendi-Wagner will make a major contribution to the health of people in Europe and wish her much success in this important activity.”
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg: “The COVID-19 pandemic in particular has brought the importance of EU-wide cooperation in the health sector into focus. I am pleased that Pamela Rendi-Wagner, a very accomplished and internationally experienced expert, has been nominated as head of the ECDC. This means that the third EU agency will be under red-white-red management.”
Rendi-Wagner prevailed in the final selection against three other applicants. After studying medicine, she worked in the field of tropical medicine and infectious diseases for almost ten years. From 2011 to 2017 she was Director General of Public Health. During this time, she has already served on the ECDC Board of Directors for six years, which is why she knows the agency very well.
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