Why the head of children’s cancer centre was dismissed

In protest 16 employees of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center have already written letters of resignation

23 November 2020, 18:55 | Naviny.by
Natallia Kanaplia.
Source: TUT.BY

The Ministry of Health is trying to expose the sudden dismissal of Natallia Kanaplia, the head of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, as a promotion. News agency Naviny.by became aware of the details that shout that this is political repression.

For employees of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology 23 November became a day of unpleasant surprises.

Unexpectedly Dzmitry Pinevich, the acting Minister of Health, came to the centre. At a meeting with the employees he announced that the contract with Natallia Kanaplia was terminated from today and that Anzhalika Sontsava, the chief children’s endocrinologist of the Ministry of Health, was appointed the new head of the medical facility.

The Cancer Centre staff is shocked. They see the dismissal as politically motivated. It is difficult to get through to the reception of the director of the oncology center. We were told that Natallia Kanaplia cannot give comments because she collects things and is no longer the head of the medical facility.

On 11 November, an appeal was submitted to the Ministry of Health from employees of the children’s Cancer Center demanding an end to violence and repression against peaceful protesters. The appeal had over 200 signatures.

From our own sources we know that a few weeks before her dismissal Natallia Kanaplia had an appointment in the Ministry of Health, where she was persuaded to dismiss the most active doctors and medical staff.

Many employees of the children’s cancer center openly condemn violence and cruelty against citizens protesting against the current government. Some doctors were fined or served arrests.

It is known in the Centre that the head rejected the authorities’ request to dismiss employees on political grounds.

Having learned about this conversation, the doctors prepared a collective appeal that they would respond to the dismissal of their leader with a mass dismissal. Apparently knowing this, the authorities removed Kanaplia suddenly, offering a quiet place in return.

Resignation letters.
Source: Telegram channel “White Coats”

According to the telegram channel “White Coats”, already 16 employees of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center have written letters of resignation in protest against the change of director.

The acting Minister of Health Dzmitry Pinevich at a meeting in the Republican Scientific and Practical Center announced that Natallia Kanaplia will now be engaged in a new project based on Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education – she will head the united department of pediatrics, where, among other things, she will be engaged in organizing residency – postgraduate training of narrowly focused specialists.

“Mrs. Kanaplia agreed on the reassignment”, highlighted Pinevich.

Natallia Kanaplia had been in charge of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology since 1 July 2019, replacing Volha Aleinikava, who had been in charge for 23 years.