Elisabet Lann, the newly appointed Minister for Health in Sweden, experienced a fainting spell during a press conference on Tuesday, September 9, shortly after her appointment was announced.
The 48-year-old took over from Acko Ankarberg Johansson, whose resignation was accepted by the Swedish government. Johansson had served in the role for three years, relinquished her parliamentary seat, and decided not to stand in the upcoming general election. In a Facebook post, she expressed her gratitude, stating it had been a ‘privilege to work for and with the Christian Democratic movement’.
Following her appointment, Lann, a prominent member of the Christian Democrats, participated in a press conference alongside other government officials, including Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch.
During the conference, Lann addressed the issue of healthcare in Sweden, saying, “Swedish healthcare is of high quality; the main issue is the long waiting times.” She emphasized the need for more equitable healthcare and stronger government oversight, stating, “It is not worthy of a welfare state that so many people are waiting for healthcare.”
Shortly after her remarks, video footage showed Lann fainting while listening intently to another speaker.
Deputy Prime Minister Busch, who has led the Christian Democrats since 2015, immediately rushed to assist Lann as she collapsed over her podium.
Busch, with the help of other officials and nearby reporters, quickly placed Lann in the recovery position.
According to a clip shared by CBS, a security team member promptly assisted Lann to her feet and escorted her out of the room.
SVT reported that Lann was able to return to the press conference soon after the incident. She attributed her fainting to low blood sugar, explaining to reporters, “This was not exactly a normal Tuesday, this could happen when you have a drop in blood sugar,” as per Euractiv.
There have been no reports from PEOPLE Magazine on whether Lann sustained injuries or required medical attention following the event.
After the incident, NDTV reported that a planned Q&A session with Lann and other government officials was canceled.
An attendee of the press conference, quoted by The New York Post, remarked on the situation, saying, “It looked really bad. She fell right in front of me.”
Before becoming Sweden’s Minister for Health, Lann was a municipal councillor in Gothenburg from 2019. She was involved in the Health Care Responsibility Inquiry, served as a deputy director in the Cabinet Office, and has been a long-standing member of the Christian Democrat party. She holds a Master’s degree in peace and development studies.