Jarno Habicht to become new head of PERH

The council of the North Estonia Regional Hospital (PERH) has appointed Jarno Habicht as the new chairman of the board. He will assume his duties on November 1, when the term of the current chairman, Agris Peedu, expires.

Habicht is an experienced healthcare manager who has been working for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Ukraine since 2018, serving as the head of the WHO office and representative in the country, gaining experience in crisis management.

Council chair Annika Lai stated that the decisive factors in choosing Habicht were his long-term leadership experience in Estonia and internationally, as well as his academic background and crisis management skills. She noted that Habicht's international experience, scientific work, and personal qualities will contribute significantly to the hospital's development.

Habicht considers his strengths to be strategic management, results orientation, and the ability to engage in dialogue with various stakeholders. He is the author of over 60 peer-reviewed scientific articles and books. Previously, he worked at the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, the Health Insurance Fund, and the WHO, representing the organization in Estonia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, and since 2018 in Ukraine.

The hospital announced a competition for the position of chairman in the spring, as Agris Peedu's ten-year term was coming to an end. Peedu stated in May that he did not wish to serve another term, believing that ten years is sufficient and that leadership should change to allow for new ideas.