After months of revelations, expert criticism and a growing crisis of confidence, the Public Health Agency of Sweden is now trying to clean up the scandal surrounding Magnus Gisslén. The new state epidemiologist will have a role that Gisslén was never allowed to have - a direct seat in the agency's management.
When Magnus Gisslén left the Public Health Agency of Sweden (FHM), he described an agency where medical expertise was pushed aside and where important decisions were made by people without the right knowledge.
Now comes the next announcement: his successor Anders Johansson will not only be the state epidemiologist, but also the head of the department and a member of the management team, according to a press release.
This is a marked change from Gissléns' situation. He raised the alarm that the State Epidemiologist lacked real influence and that the agency was run far from medical expertise.
Now Anders Johansson also admits that the criticism was right.
– Several points he made were relevant. They have probably taken on board the criticism, he says to Svenska Dagbladet.
FHM under pressure after the crisis
The Public Health Agency of Sweden has come under increasing pressure this year following reports of internal conflicts, power plays and decisions that went against its own experts. Criticism exploded after Gisslén told how health care recommendations were withdrawn despite support from research and medical expertise.
At the same time, the agency refused to acknowledge any problems for a long time. Now, changes are being made, but without management openly admitting that Gisslén was right.
“There is much to improve”
Anders Johansson himself says that Sweden still has major shortcomings in infection control.
– I think there are a lot of things that can be improved, he says.
He points in particular to problems with cooperation between authorities and the need for better preparedness for the next pandemic.
But several questions remain unanswered. The Public Health Agency has yet to explain why Mr. Gisslén was removed, or why his criticism was first dismissed, only to be followed by the very changes he called for.
There are plenty of authorities in Sweden that need to be cleaned up from useless parasites who only take an undeservedly high salary without doing anything useful.