The Doctors' Trade Union Association (LOZ) has urged President Peter Pellegrini to ensure transparency and professionalism in the public tender for ambulance service licences. In a letter, LOZ expressed concerns over a lack of information, an unclear selection process, and fears that the tender may be driven by non-transparent interests rather than public health needs.
“It’s still unknown who sits on the selection committee or what criteria will be used,” said LOZ chairman Peter Visolajský, warning that the procurement risks turning into a pre-arranged business deal instead of a fair and lawful process.
In response, President Pellegrini called on Health Minister Kamil Sasko to ensure that the tender process complies fully with Slovak law. The Health Ministry stated that the selection of 344 ground ambulance and seven helicopter EMS units will be conducted transparently and objectively, and dismissed LOZ’s concerns as "artificially created hysteria."
The union maintains that emergency medical services must remain free of political influence and subject to public oversight.
Source: TASR
