David Rath
David Rath being egged at a European parliament election rally in 2009
Minister of Health
In office
4 November 2005 – 4 September 2006
Prime MinisterJiří Paroubek
Preceded byMilada Emmerová
Succeeded byTomáš Julínek
Governor of the Central Bohemian Region
In office
24 November 2008 – 16 May 2012
Preceded byPetr Bendl
Succeeded byZuzana Moravčíková
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
3 June 2006 – 28 August 2013
Personal details
Born (1965-12-25) 25 December 1965
Prague, Czechoslovakia
Political partyČSSD (2006–2012)
SD–LSNS (1996–1997)
ODS (1991–1994)
SpouseEva Rathová
Residence(s)Hostivice, Czech Republic
Alma materCharles University in Prague
Occupationpolitician, physician
Websitewww.rathdavid.cz

David Rath (born 25 December 1965) is a Czech physician, former politician who served as Minister of Health from 2005 to 2006, and convicted criminal. He was a member of the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) until 16 May 2012 when he resigned after being charged with bribery.[1][2] He also served as Member of the Chamber of Deputies (MP) from 2006 to 2013, first as representative from Prague and then from Central Bohemian Region where he was Governor between 2008 and 2012.

On 23 July 2015, Rath was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for corruption and manipulation with government procurements. Rath appealed the verdict. The appeal was rejected on 26 June 2019, but the sentence was reduced to seven years.[3]

Medical career

Rath completed his medical degree at Charles University in Prague in 1990. He practiced internal medicine at General Teaching Hospital in Prague (Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice), and then at the Faculty Hospital at Motol (Fakultní nemocnice v Motole). Then in Kralupy nad Vltavou he worked for the Samaritan Association. He returned to Prague and joined the internal medicine faculty at Charles University in 1995. From 1998 to 2005 Rath served as the president of the Czech Doctors' Chamber (Česká Lékařská Komora, or ČLK), an umbrella organisation for all Czech physicians.[4]

Political career

In 1994 Rath joined the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). In 1995 he formed the Medical Action Group (or Physician's Union Club) within the party, which brought in significant monetary support during the 1998 elections. As director of the Physician's Union Club Rath initiated the November 1996 doctor's strike. In 1996 he was vice-chairman of the Free Democrats – Liberal National Socialist Party coalition (SD-LSNS).

In November 2005, the Prime Minister at the time, Jiří Paroubek, appointed him health minister. He was directed to fix the finances of the troubled Czech health system, and he proceeded to institute a number of radical reforms.[5]

In May 2006 Rath made international news when he traded blows with former Deputy Prime Minister Miroslav Macek at a dentists' conference after reportedly implying that Macek had married his wife for her money.[6] Macek was later fined for having initiated the violence by slapping Rath on the back of the head prior to delivering a speech at the conference.[7]

In September 2006, Rath was succeeded by Tomáš Julínek as Minister of Health for the Czech Republic.[8] Rath was then elected chairman of the Health Committee of the Czech Chamber of Deputies (lower house).[9]

Corruption charge and conviction

In May 2012, he was arrested and charged with receiving bribes.[1] At that time, he served both as a Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic and Governor of the Central Bohemian Region.[10]

On 23 July 2015, he was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. The verdict was appealed by Rath's defense counsel.[11] The appeal was rejected in June 2019, but the sentence was reduced to seven years.[3] Charges in a second bribery case are still pending.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "PŘÍMÝ PŘENOS: Tisková konference policie k obvinění poslance Ratha". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). iDnes. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Rath skončil jako hejtman i v ČSSD, rezignoval ze zastupitelstva kraje"
  3. 1 2 "Soud definitivně rozhodl, že je David Rath vinen. Za zmanipulované zakázky dostal 7 let vězení". Česká televize. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. ↑ Rosenbaum, Zdeněk (May 2002) "Lékaři A Lékárníci: Společně I Sami" Pharma News Prague interview with David Rath as president of the ČLK in Czech
  5. ↑ Krosnar, Katka (1 April 2006) "Czech health workers call for minister to be sacked" The Lancet 367(9516): p. 1046
  6. ↑ "Czech politicians exchange blows". BBC News. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  7. ↑ ČTK (18 September 2006) "Macek fined 3,000 crowns for slap to ex-minister Rath" Czech News Agency Prague
  8. ↑ ČTK (4 September 2006) "Outgoing health minister Rath shaprly criticises his successor" Czech News Agency Prague
  9. ↑ ČTK (13 September 2006) "Chamber health committee elects Rath its head" Czech News Agency Prague
  10. ↑ "ŽIVĚ: Hejtman Rath si při zatčení nesl 7 milionů, vyšetřovalo ho 100 policistů" (in Czech). Hospodářské noviny. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "Czech court sends former politician Rath to prison for corruption". ČTK. České noviny. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Policie navrhla obžalovat obviněné z druhé větve Rathovy kauzy" [Police ask for indictments of accused in second branch of the Rath Case]. České Noviny. Czech News Agency. 18 August 2015.
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