Vytenis Andriukaitis
Vytenis Andriukaitis became European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety in November 2014. From 2012 to 2014 he held the post of minister for health in the Lithuanian government. Dr Andriukaitis was a member of the Lithuanian parliament for six terms, during which time he served as chairman of the Committee on European Affairs and as a deputy speaker of parliament. He also served as president of the Social-Democratic Party.
From 1969 onwards Dr Andriukaitis was active in the anti-Soviet movement, and was a co-author and signatory of the Independence Act of Lithuania in 1990. He graduated from medical school in 1975 and was a practicing surgeon for more than 20 years, gaining a specialisation in cardiovascular surgery in 1989. He also holds a degree in history from Vilnius University.
