Secretary General injects ‘new blood’

By Dara Gantly. Dr Ambrose McLoughlin was named last week as the new Secretary General in the Department of Health, replacing Michael Scanlan, who recently retired after seven years in the post. Three final candidates were identified by the Top Level Appointments Committee, with Dr McLoughlin chosen by the Government at a Cabinet meeting recently. On outsider from the Civil Service, Dr McLoughlin is the current Registrar/Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). A dentist by training, he has over 30 years’ experience in the health service, from practitioner level to CEO. From 1995 to 2000, he held…