Paramedics disagree with the Slovak Ministry of Health’s (MZ SR) plan to change the system of providing emergency medical services (EMS). If the proposal comes into force, they are prepared to resign. They have called on Health Minister Kamil Šaško (Hlas-SD) to suspend the process and enter into talks with them. Their position is also supported by the Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS). Representatives of paramedics and ZMOS informed the public of this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Partizánske.
ZMOS chairman Jozef Božik appealed for paramedic organizations to have a key voice in shaping the reform. “We are concerned that if these individual units were managed by hospitals, it could happen that hospitals would use the economics of emergency medical services to address a lack of funds or poor financial situations,” Božik said.
According to him, the Slovak Society of Emergency Medicine and Disaster Medicine (SSUMaMK), doctors, and paramedics, together with ZMOS, will strive to ensure that if a new model is adopted, it will be one that leads to improvement rather than deterioration. Božik also announced that ZMOS will request a meeting with the minister.
“We would ask the minister to withdraw this proposal in the form in which it was submitted,” said Zuzana Pukancová from the basic trade union organization at the Bratislava EMS.
According to her, EMS already operates thanks to people’s willingness to work beyond their contractual duties, with staff serving an enormous amount of overtime. “The system is simply operating on the edge, and if it is disrupted further, it is possible that there will be a total collapse,” she stressed.
SSUMaMK Vice President Ivan Majling noted that in response to the presented plan, there is clear unity across the entire paramedic community, with support also coming from other healthcare professionals and components of the integrated rescue system. “We are asking the minister to suspend this process and return to the beginning, and to use what he has managed to achieve—unifying the entire paramedic community—and to use this moment to sit down together at one table and, from the outset, come up with the best solution to all the problems in emergency medical services that we have failed to resolve over the years, and move forward, not backward,” Majling added.
The Ministry of Health’s communications department responded that the ministry has presented a basic vision for the future functioning of EMS in Slovakia and has thereby opened an expert discussion with all relevant stakeholders. According to the ministry, paramedics themselves—whose role in the healthcare system is irreplaceable—are being actively involved in the discussion. “Together with its partners, the ministry is seeking a consensual solution that will primarily benefit patients while also strengthening and clearly defining the position of paramedics. Representatives of the ministry continue discussions; most recently, they met with paramedic trade union representatives on Tuesday (3 February). Given the ongoing negotiations, it is premature at this stage to speak about specific details,” the ministry added.
Under the new proposal, the operation of emergency medical services could fall under hospitals with emergency departments. These hospitals would be able to choose how they operate EMS units, selecting from three possible models. The minister presented the plan at the end of January and at the same time declared that the preparation of comprehensive legislation would be preceded by a broad expert discussion.
Source: TASR
