David Rath

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = David Rath

| image = Vaječná intifáda – předvolební kampaň ČSSD do Evropského parlamentu 2009 (Anděl, 27.5.2009), David Rath (cropped).jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = David Rath during the European parliament election campaign in 2009

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|25|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Prague, Czechoslovakia

| residence = Hostivice, Czech Republic

| religion =

| office = Minister of Health

| term_start = 4 November 2005

| term_end = 4 September 2006

| primeminister = Jiří Paroubek

| predecessor = Milada Emmerová

| successor = Tomáš Julínek

| office2 = Governor of the Central Bohemian Region

| term_start2 = 24 November 2008

| term_end2 = 16 May 2012

| predecessor2 = Petr Bendl

| successor2 = Zuzana Moravčíková

| office3 = Member of the Chamber of Deputies

| term_start3 = 3 June 2006

| term_end3 = 28 August 2013

| occupation = politician, physician

| spouse = Eva Rathová

| party = ČSSD (2006–2012)
SD–LSNS (1996–1997)
ODS (1991–1994)

| otherparty =

| alma_mater = Charles University in Prague

| signature =

| website = {{URL|http://www.rathdavid.cz/}}

| footnotes =

}}

David Rath (born 25 December 1965) is a Czech physician, former politician who served as Minister of Health from 2005 to 2006, and convicted criminal. He was a member of the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) until 16 May 2012 when he resigned after being charged with bribery.{{cite web|url=http://zpravy.idnes.cz/primy-prenos-tiskova-konference-policie-k-obvineni-poslance-ratha-106-/domaci.aspx?c=A120515_165607_domaci_jw|title=PŘÍMÝ PŘENOS: Tisková konference policie k obvinění poslance Ratha|date=15 May 2012|work=Mladá fronta DNES|publisher=iDnes|language=Czech|accessdate=15 May 2012}}[http://zpravy.idnes.cz/rath-rezignoval-na-post-hejtmana-stredoceskeho-kraje-pdc-/domaci.aspx?c=A120516_152808_praha-zpravy_cen "Rath skončil jako hejtman i v ČSSD, rezignoval ze zastupitelstva kraje"] He also served as Member of the Chamber of Deputies (MP) from 2006 to 2013, first as representative from Prague and then from Central Bohemian Region where he was Governor between 2008 and 2012.

On 23 July 2015, Rath was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for corruption and manipulation with government procurements. Rath appealed the verdict. The appeal was rejected on 26 June 2019, but the sentence was reduced to seven years.{{cite web |title=Soud definitivně rozhodl, že je David Rath vinen. Za zmanipulované zakázky dostal 7 let vězení |url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/2852663-soud-vynese-pravomocny-verdikt-v-korupcni-kauze-davida-ratha |website=Česká televize |accessdate=26 June 2019}}

Medical career

Rath completed his medical degree at Charles University in Prague in 1990. He practiced internal medicine at General Teaching Hospital in Prague (Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice), and then at the Faculty Hospital at Motol (Fakultní nemocnice v Motole). Then in Kralupy nad Vltavou he worked for the Samaritan Association. He returned to Prague and joined the internal medicine faculty at Charles University in 1995. From 1998 to 2005 Rath served as the president of the Czech Doctors' Chamber (Česká Lékařská Komora, or ČLK), an umbrella organisation for all Czech physicians.[http://www.pharmanews.cz/09_2002/09-02%20pharma-lekarnici.htm Rosenbaum, Zdeněk (May 2002) "Lékaři A Lékárníci: Společně I Sami" Pharma News Prague] interview with David Rath as president of the ČLK in Czech

Political career

In 1994 Rath joined the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). In 1995 he formed the Medical Action Group (or Physician's Union Club) within the party, which brought in significant monetary support during the 1998 elections. As director of the Physician's Union Club Rath initiated the November 1996 doctor's strike. In 1996 he was vice-chairman of the Free Democrats – Liberal National Socialist Party coalition (SD-LSNS).

In November 2005, the Prime Minister at the time, Jiří Paroubek, appointed him health minister. He was directed to fix the finances of the troubled Czech health system, and he proceeded to institute a number of radical reforms.Krosnar, Katka (1 April 2006) "Czech health workers call for minister to be sacked" The Lancet 367(9516): p. 1046

In May 2006 Rath made international news when he traded blows with former Deputy Prime Minister Miroslav Macek at a dentists' conference after reportedly implying that Macek had married his wife for her money.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5001414.stm|title=Czech politicians exchange blows|work=BBC News|date=21 May 2006|accessdate=22 October 2010}} Macek was later fined for having initiated the violence by slapping Rath on the back of the head prior to delivering a speech at the conference.[http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/vyhledavani/index_view.php?id=210085 ČTK (18 September 2006) "Macek fined 3,000 crowns for slap to ex-minister Rath" Czech News Agency Prague ]

In September 2006, Rath was succeeded by Tomáš Julínek as Minister of Health for the Czech Republic.[http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=207509 ČTK (4 September 2006) "Outgoing health minister Rath shaprly criticises his successor" Czech News Agency Prague ] Rath was then elected chairman of the Health Committee of the Czech Chamber of Deputies (lower house).[http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/vyhledavani/index_view.php?id=209208 ČTK (13 September 2006) "Chamber health committee elects Rath its head" Czech News Agency Prague]

Corruption charge and conviction

In May 2012, he was arrested and charged with receiving bribes. At that time, he served both as a Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic and Governor of the Central Bohemian Region.{{cite web|url=http://zpravy.ihned.cz/cesko/c1-55802760-hejtmana-a-poslance-ratha-zadrzela-policie-podezira-ho-z-korupce|title=ŽIVĚ: Hejtman Rath si při zatčení nesl 7 milionů, vyšetřovalo ho 100 policistů|date=15 May 2012|publisher=Hospodářské noviny|language=Czech|accessdate=15 May 2012}}

On 23 July 2015, he was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. The verdict was appealed by Rath's defense counsel.{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/czech-court-sends-former-politician-rath-to-prison-for-corruption/1240758|title=Czech court sends former politician Rath to prison for corruption|date=23 July 2015|work=ČTK|publisher=České noviny|accessdate=11 September 2015}} The appeal was rejected in June 2019, but the sentence was reduced to seven years. Charges in a second bribery case are still pending.{{Cite news|title=Policie navrhla obžalovat obviněné z druhé větve Rathovy kauzy |trans-title=Police ask for indictments of accused in second branch of the Rath Case |date=18 August 2015|newspaper=České Noviny|publisher=Czech News Agency|url=http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/tema/zpravy/policie-navrhla-obzalovat-obvinene-z-druhe-vetve-rathovy-kauzy/1248733&id_seznam=5024}}