The staff of the cardiac center demanded that the resignation of the legendary chief physician Jan Gabinsky be revoked.

      The deputy governor and Minister of Health of Sverdlovsk Oblast, Tatyana Savinova, visited the Ural Institute of Cardiology, where the chief physician Yan Gabinsky had been relieved of his post the day before. During a meeting with the staff she explained the reasons for the dismissal and emphasized that the well-known academician and professor would continue to work at the clinic.

      "Yan Lvovich's age does not allow us to conclude a new employment contract with him. We offered him two alternatives — to become the scientific director of the clinic or to chair the board of trustees. Both positions are prestigious and comparable in terms of remuneration. We hope for his consent," Savinova said. Her words are reported by the portal 66.RU.

      The institute said that staff sent a query to the regional prosecutor's office to clarify whether a leader may remain in office after the age of 70. The response, received on October 7, confirmed that such a decision does not contradict the law. The staff hopes that Gabinsky will be able to continue working for at least another year. The question of a successor is not being discussed yet.

      According to Savinova, the search for a candidate for the chief physician post has been underway for three months. Among the three contenders are only institute employees. The meeting with the minister was tense: the discussion turned into an argument, and hospital staff openly expressed dissatisfaction with the decision. Yan Gabinsky himself also said that he does not agree with his dismissal.

      Gabinsky has worked as a physician since 1975. In 1985 he organized and headed an infarction center that became the Ural Institute of Cardiology. He has led it ever since.