Sasko to Dismiss NTO Director Kuba

Bratislava, November 7 (TASR) - Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) will dismiss head of the National Transplantation Organisation (NTO) Daniel Kuba, once he finds a suitable successor to replace him, TASR learnt on Thursday. Speaking during Question Time in Parliament, Health Minister Sasko claimed that he expects the name of the new director to be determined by the end of next week. Sasko explained that it has turned out director Kuba was in a conflict of interest. According to MP Vladimira Marcinkova (SaS), Monday's (November 4) MP probe in NTO revealed several violations of the law and the fact that efficient oversight regarding the cord blood exports is lacking. She added that NTO director Kuba was granting blood exports permits to a company, on the administration board of which he was simultaneously sitting. In its response on Wednesday (November 8), the NTO declared it disagrees with allegations it had violated the law. Back in October, MP Marcinkova drew attention to problems with cord blood donations, which are subsequently sold commercially by a private firm. The blood donations are carried out by the Slovak Register of Placental Hematogeneous Cells, which is part of the Cord Blood Center Group. Register director Zohdy Hamid took objections to what he sees as a "negative campaign" and an effort at smearing the organisation's reputation. mf/mcs