Borst-Eilers, Els (1932–)

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Borst-Eilers, Els (1932–)

Dutch doctor and politician. Name variations: Els Borst; Dr. E. Borst-Eilers. Born Mar 22, 1932, in Amsterdam, Netherlands; graduate in medicine from University of Amsterdam, 1958; studied pediatrics, 1958–60, and immunohematology, 1960–65; took doctoral degree in medicine, 1972; m. Johan Borst (physician, died 1988); children: 3.

Worked as scientific employee in immunohematology at University of Utrecht (1965–69); became head of the blood bank at Academic Hospital Utrecht (1969), then medical director (1976); served as vice-chair of the Health Council (1986–94); was appointed fellow of Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh (1977); appointed minister of Health, Welfare and Sports (1994), then deputy prime minister and minister of Health, Welfare and Sports (1998); was the 1st female politician in the Netherlands charged with advising the crown on the Cabinet formation.