opposition from the physician and Social Democratic politician Sorin Oprescu, who had drafted an alternative proposal. A reference to Arafat as "the Ayatollah of Romanian emergency medicine" and the stress he placed on the latter's country of origin brought Oprescu to the attention of the National Council for Combating Discrimination. A first aid instructor, he coordinated international lectures on the matter in several countries (including Austria, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States). In 2003, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit of Romania (a Grand Officer since 2005). Since August, 2009, he has held the position of Under-Secretary of State for Health. He resigned from this position on January 10, 2012, as he expressed criticism on the health system reform. After a series of protests in several cities, the government announced changes to the reform plan, and Dr Arafat returned to his post as Under-Secretary of State. In late 2012 he was Romanian Minister of Health, then came back to his charge as undersecretary in the same ministry. References and bibliography A. Todea, F. Maria, M. Avram, Oameni de știință mureșeni – Dicționar biobibliografic, CJ Mureș Biblioteca Județeană Mureș, tipografia Mediaprint SRL, 2004 People from Damascus Romanian people of Palestinian descent Romanian Muslims Romanian anesthesiologists Palestinian emigrants to Romania 1964 births Living people Romanian Ministers of Health Recipients of the Order of Honour (Moldova) Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy alumni