The Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Itamar Grotto leaves the office

The Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Itamar Grotto, announced today to the Minister of Health, Yuli Edelstein, and to the Director General, Prof. Hezi Levy, his intention to terminate his position after 13 years as Deputy Director General and Head of Public Health Services.
"After 31 years in the public service in the IDF and the Ministry of Health, after 13 years as head of public health services and deputy director general of the Ministry of Health, after a particularly difficult and demanding year in which I served at the forefront of the struggle in Corona and worked tirelessly for public health - I asked Health Minister Yuli Edelstein "The office of Prof. Hezi Levy, to end my duties at the end of 2020, in order to rest a bit, and embark on a new path," Grotto wrote in a letter he sent to employees.
"Having had the great privilege of serving the State of Israel for many years in the military and civilian health system - which is being revealed these days in all its glory, professionalism and the excellence of its people - I believe the value of rotation and new blood flow into public systems matters." Added.
Edelstein thanked Grotto and said, "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 distress. Prof. Grotto was a great asset to the ministry for many years and the citizens of Israel owe him much."
The CEO spoke with Prof. Itamar Grotto, and thanked him very much for his many years of contribution both in the professional field and in many fields and organizations in the health system. He is credited with a great privilege for all his many years of work in the public health system, both in the IDF and in academia and, of course, in the Ministry of Health. The CEO wished him great success and continued contribution to the public.
Grotto, a member of the board of directors of the World Health Organization, expected to be appointed director general of the ministry, but Prof. Hezi Levy, director of Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, was elected to the position. Grotto received the news of his difficult appointment.