As things currently stand, we need to get ready that we will likely have to maintain the country s pandemic preparedness thoughout all of 2021, PM Viktor Orban said in the Carmelite Monastery in Budapest on Monday morning, after presenting leaders of the National Hospital Directorate with their instruments of appointment.

We won t „get through the current health crisis” by the end of 2021, PM Orban stressed. He added that although there may be some easier stages after the first dose of the vaccine, and then after the commencement of mass vaccination, „by the time everything goes back to normal, it will take at least one full year”.

Mr Orban described the tasks of the general director of the National Hospital and his deputies as the apex of both the medical profession and heathcare management, and he thanked them for undertaking these duties that involve great responsibilty.

In order to ensure the proper functioning of hospitals in the current situation, the leaders of institutions must also present skills that are not considered as strengths of Hungarian public administration, Viktor Orban said, adding that the culture of cooperation was key. Leaders of the National Hospital Directorate must simultaneously work with prime minister, the head of the Operative Board and the minister in charge of professional management, he stressed.

After the government members, it may be the leaders of the National Directorate who will need to work the most within Hungary s public administration sector, Mr Orban said.

„In times of crisis, assuming such a difficult position on the dam where you will be in the coming months is both an arduous and honorable task. The trust of the entire country is in you. (…) Don t forget that every life matters”, PM Orban concluded his thoughts.

Interior MInister Sandor Pinter and Human Resources Minister Miklos Kasler were also present at the event.

Speaking at the appointment ceremony Bertalan Havasi, the deputy state secretary in charge of PM Orban s Press Office, recalled that the government had made a decision to set up the National Hospital Directorate on 17 November.

The General Directorate – a budgetary institution functioning as a central office – falls under the remit of Hungary s health minister and is directly led by the Director General of the National Hospital. According to Hungarian laws, in times of emergency the National Hospital s General Directorate is commanded by the head of the Operative Board, which comes under the interior minister, he explained.