Vasile Cepoi resigned Monday from the position of health minister, amid conflict of interest and corruption allegations.
Sub-secretary of state Raed Arafat, who agreed to the workload but refused to be appointed interim minister, will deal with the administrative aspects of the ministry.
The law allows a 45-day interim period, during which time Ponta will take over as interim health minister.
Ponta said Monday Arafat had accepted to take over the former minister’s attributions until parliamentary elections on December 9, but declined to be appointed minister.
Last week, Cepoi was placed under investigation by the National Integrity Agency over allegations of conflict of interests, crimes against European Community’s financial interests as well as corruption-related crimes, while he was the head of the public health department in Iasi, eastern Romania.
Cepoi remains in the government as the prime minister’s adviser on health sector matters.