The social minister told ERR the contest for a new chief will be announced by a selection committee with the State Chancellery. The contest must last at least two weeks, and be followed by several rounds of interviews and discussions. The commission will then make their proposals.

Kiik said: "I sincerely hope the contest will be initiated in June. I personally find it critical that a new chief would be selected during the summer, because we can not deal with questions during autumn. By then we need to be in our final composition and prepared for a possible second wave."

Jürilo's last day will be on July 2 and she will be replaced by an acting chief, who will be chosen next week: "It will likely be one of the current region heads." Kiik added the position of deputy director is also not filled.

Kiik added: "There is a lot of important work done in the health field for our well-being and health. There are certainly people who those challenges speak to. We are not looking for someone who wants a comfortable position, but for someone to who crises and challenges are an expected dimension of work and who see it as a possibility to make a contribution to the development of the field and more broadly, for the state and its people. That is the principle by which people are chosen."

The outgoing chief of the Health Board, Merike Jürilo, announced her resignation on Thursday, June 19. She stated comments made by social minister Tanel Kiik to daily Postimees (link in Estonian), referring to a lack of trust between the board and the government, as the reason for her resignation.

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