Emets Illia Mykolayovych

Twice Minister of Health and Director of the Children's Cardiology Center

Born in 1965. Cardiac surgeon, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. From 2003 to 2025 — Director of the State Institution “Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health”. In 2010–2011 — Minister of Health under Yanukovych. In March 2020 — again Minister of Health (replaced Skaletska at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic; worked less than a month — dismissed in April 2020). Founder of the “State Program for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases” (2006). Known primarily as a physician rather than a public official.

Dismissal after 44 days and declarative issues with the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP)

Emets’ return in March 2020 to the position of minister amidst the COVID-19 pandemic lasted only 44 days — he failed to form a team and lacked managerial experience for crisis management. The NACP initiated an audit of his asset declaration, however, no public results indicating violations have been released. No high-profile corruption investigations or suspicions regarding Emets have been recorded — the main criticism concerns managerial incompetence in both his ministerial terms.