Health Minister Zuzana Zvolenská has decided to step down from her post following the suspicious purchase of CT scanner by Piešťany hospital. In 2012, the hospital intended to purchase a CT scanner for more than €1 million, but the tender was cancelled.
Then after nominees of the ruling SMER party took control of the board a new tender was announced for a more expensive device, delivered by Košice-based Medical Group SK at almost €1.6 million. Before becoming an MP, Parliament Speaker Pavol Paška had been a minority stakeholder in this company but he denies any links to the tender. The Health Minister says that she did not know about the purchase. “I can't say at the moment whether or not the approach of the hospital was right. I will file a complaint with the Public Procurement Office, which is the only body authorised to investigate whether or not the public procurement process was legal. I'm also filing a complaint with the Supreme Audit Office”, reads the statement released by Zvolenská who is a nominee of the ruling Smer –SD party. She also dismissed all Health Ministry nominees from the Supervisory Board on Monday.
