Iraq's Minister of Health Alaa Alwan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi a month ago but the latter rejected it, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Tuesday.
The ministry affirmed that Alwan will continue to serve as the health minister, as Abd al-Mahdi and other political figures, who it did not name, asked him to remain.
Alwan decided earlier to resign as he experienced unfair pressures and blatant interference in his work, the ministry said, adding that many obstacles have continued to be placed to prevent him from implementing good governance.
The statement added that obstacles have prevented the advancement of the health and environmental situation in the country, noting that Abd al-Mahdi along with a number of political leaders asked him to stay in his post and continue according to the approach he started.