The Year of Transparency

Last Wednesday Edith Schippers, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, was a guest at the talk show Linda's Zomerweek in which Linda de Mol receives several dutch people to talk about their (personal) lives. The news organization NOS tells us that Minister Schippers needs to write a letter to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, explaining why she recommended a creme from a clinic that is closely linked to a commercial hospital-health care provider. 

                                                            © RTL

Furthermore NOS stated that SP politician Leijten thinks that the credibility of Minister Schipper is at stake. Schippers is the same Minister that has a popular face in the “Year of Transparency”, while she is an advocate for transparency about the ties between doctors and scientists on the one hand and the pharmaceutical industry on the other hand. Is Minister Schippers allowed to recommend a creme from Bergman Clinics at Linda's Zomerweek? Do I sense some clandestine advertising?

In my opinion Minister Schippers should at least explain her television performance in relation to the creme in an well over thought open letter (hello PR agent). This action just doesn't seem to fit into this “Year of Transparency”.

Margarita Jansen