Who Could be The Next Minister of Health?

Kurdistan parliamentary and presidential elections were the beginning of the start of a new era in Kurdish politics. The gains that the opposition made in the election through getting about 40 of the 111 seats of the Parliament is a dramatic change that promise good influence on the work of the future government.
One of the main functions of any Parliament is being able to oversight the work and functions of the government to ensure accountability, transparency and the adherence to the rule of law. This job of the new parliament should start right now. With the new members of the Parliament scheduled to have their first meeting next week, it is not too early to talk about what would be the priorities for the next few months.
In addition to such pressing and urgent issues like the return of those who were fired from their jobs just because they voted against the political establishment, it is necessary to address the structure of the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
It is important for the new Parliament to consider playing a positively significant role in the selections of the new ministers for the KRG. Without aiming very high and having reasonable expectations, that ensure preventing stalemate and political stagnation, the new parliament need to guarantee the transparency of not only the selection process but also vetting of those who are considered to be ministers in the next KRG.
Transparency should be one of the priorities of the new Parliament when it comes to the work of the government. The new Parliament can show us a gesture of good will through ensuring that highly qualified professionals get the chance to be at least vetted for governmental positions. This can be achieved through holding hearings for those who are considered to be members of the next KRG cabinet. For now even a ceremonial confirmation hearing for those minister will do. At least we need to start a transparent process of knowing who those ministers are and what are their plans for their respective ministries.
Having said that, the importance of abandoning patronage and introducing transparency, if important for other ministries, is even more so for the Ministry of Health. The selection of Ministers for this crucial governmental function had been based so far on political connections rather than professional qualifications and on being a good doctor rather than a good servant. This needs to end. The next Minister of Health, should be a prominent health or preferably public health professional with significant achievement in the field of health.
It is crucial for the next minister of health to combine academic and scientific knowledge with public health and field skills and experience. He or She should know the health conditions of our country in and out. Know and have the gut to introduce policies based on the priorities of the country. Be able to face the miscalculated moves of politicians by throwing money at our health problems to satisfy their constituents.
Having a leader of a political party without any health knowledge, a prominent physician with significant medical knowledge and authority, and finally a diaspora physician with long term service to the country in the mountains, didn't prove beneficial to the prospect of having a healthy society. Now it is time for change in these policies. Now is time for professionals and highly qualified public health personnel to get engaged in the decision making process. This needs courage in part of the political establishment, a sense of responsibility in part of the opposition and most importantly a will in part of professionals to get engaged in the political process.