Erik Sturegård Responds to Criticism of the Public Health Agency

Sturegård Counters Gisslén: “I Don't Recognize Myself in That”

Former state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén has directed sharp criticism at the Public Health Agency since his resignation in August, claiming it is plagued by power struggles, inefficiency, and lacks medical expertise in its leadership.

The new interim state epidemiologist, Erik Sturegård, disagrees with him.

– I don't recognize the agency as functioning poorly. Not at all, actually. However, there is a question about the placement of the state epidemiologist and what role the state epidemiologist should have. It's a topic for discussion that I believe we should delve into and discuss more broadly, he says on TV4's “Nyhetsmorgon.”

Acknowledging Parts of the Criticism

The Director-General of the Public Health Agency, Olivia Wigzell, initially dismissed Gisslén's criticism but later announced a review of the agency's competence. Among other things, it was decided that the state epidemiologist will participate in the leadership group.

Erik Sturegård also acknowledges parts of the criticism, particularly regarding closer collaboration with Swedish universities.

– It's quite unusual to work in an organization that receives so much criticism in such a short time. I think that when criticism is given, you have to listen to it and consider what you can do with it. Parts of this criticism concern things we have been working on for a long time, such as the task now assigned to me and the three other deputy state epidemiologists to strengthen and deepen strategic collaboration with Swedish universities, he says on “Nyhetsmorgon.”