Health minister dismisses conflict of interest for being married to president

The health minister said on Monday that there is no conflict of interest in being married to the current president of the Association of Nutritionists, and said custody of that body has been delegated to the secretary of state for health promotion.

“Frankly, I don’t think that exists. I have no doubt that this female Secretary of State will exercise this guardianship position”said Manuel Pizarro, on the sidelines of Pharmacist’s Day celebrations, in Sintra, in the Lisbon neighborhood.

Aware of the potential conflict of interest, Manuel Pizarro explained that he “measure (…) most appropriate”who would entrust the tutelage of the Order of Nutritionists to Margarida Tavares”.

“(…) Since taking office as Minister, I have been aware that, in the function of administrative oversight of professional orders, (…) this risk of conflict of interest exists and I have taken the measure that seems to me to be the most appropriate that it decided from the outset that I would delegate this oversight function of the Order of Nutritionists to the Secretary of State for Health Promotion”marked.

When asked about the reasons why Margarida Tavares’s name is not yet in the Diário da República, the official stated that “it was necessary to wait for the inauguration of the secretaries of state”for later “organize the whole process of delegation of powers”.

“It’s even a lucky chance that there is a Secretary of State for Health Promotion. I think the guardianship of the Order of Nutritionists has been properly handed over to the Secretary of State for Health Promotion”repeated, noting that: “It certainly won’t go by an order from the minister” [da Saúde]”.

“If the guardianship rests with the State Secretary, it does not have to go through the minister”he emphasized.

Manuel Pizarro’s statements came after news was aired that the government official may have a conflict of interest as he is married to the president of the Order of Nutritionists, Alexandra Bento.

The Order of Nutritionists was established in 2011 with the approval of the current Minister of Health, who at the time held the position of State Secretary for Health.

Also, Alexandra Bento was the only president of the occupational health organization to attend Manuel Pizarro’s inauguration on September 10.