Shocking moment Sweden’s new health minister collapses during press conference on first day
Topics: World News, Politics, Health, Viral
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: SVT DIREKT
Topics: World News, Politics, Health, Viral
Elisabet Lann, Sweden’s latest Minister for Health, fainted during a press conference on Tuesday (September 9) - just hours after her new position had been announced.
48-year-old Lann was elected to the position after her predecessor Acko Ankarberg Johansson’s resignation was accepted by the Swedish government.
Johansson vacated the role after three years, left her seat in the Parliament and withdrew her candidacy for the next general election, with the 60-year-old claiming it had been a ‘privilege to work for and with the Christian Democratic movement’, in a post made via Facebook.
After stepping into Johansson’s shoes, Lann, another leading Christian Democrat, took part in a press conference.
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She was joined by other government officials, including Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, 61, and Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ebba Busch, 38.
"Swedish healthcare is of high quality; the main issue is the long waiting times,” she said during the meeting with journalists.
“We must transition to equitable healthcare. It is clear that we must strengthen government control. It is not worthy of a welfare state that so many people are waiting for healthcare.”
Moments later, footage captured Lann fainting while intently listening to another official speak.
After watching the new Minister for Health topple over her transparent podium, Busch - who has served as the Leader of the Christian Democrats since April 2015 - rushed to her aid.
Lann was quickly put into the recovery position by Busch, who was helped in her efforts by both government officials and reporters who were sitting in the first few rows.
As per a clip shared by CBS, the woman was quickly helped to her feet by a member of security before swiftly being taken out of the room.
Lann was reportedly able to return to the press conference shortly after her fall, according to a report by SVT. She also told reporters that she toppled over because of low blood sugar.
"This was not exactly a normal Tuesday, this could happen when you have a drop in blood sugar,” she explained to journalists, as per Euractiv.
It has not been reported whether the politician was injured during the event or whether she needed medical attention afterwards, according to PEOPLE Magazine.
NDTV said that after the episode, a scheduled questions and answers session with Lann and other government figures was cancelled.
“It looked really bad. She fell right in front of me,” said one press conference attendee after the incident, as per The New York Post.
Prior to her appointment as Sweden’s Minister for Health, Lann served as one of Gothenburg's municipal councillors, beginning in 2019.
She participated in the Health Care Responsibility Inquiry, whilst working as deputy director of the Cabinet Office, is a long-term member of the Christian Democrat party and has a Master’s degree in peace and development studies.