PM Fico: Health Minister Čislák has the support of the Government

On the side-lines of the Government session in Trenčín on Wednesday Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he isn't considering the dismissal of Health Minister Viliam Čislák over the current tense situation in the sector. The situation surrounds Žilina Hospital, where 13 doctors and 64 nurses handed in their resignations. The doctors are thus protesting against what they deemed to be cost concerns dictating patient care and the nurses complained about being totally exhausted from frequent overtime shifts. PM Fico stated that the whole government is supporting Minister Čislák, striving to create the best conditions possible for him, Fico said adding that the post of health minister isn't a "reward but a punishment", which is attributable to the reforms of former governments. Viliam Čislák is fairly new to the post as he replaced Zuzana Zvolenská in the position of Health Minister in November of last year when she was forced to resign over a scandal involving the purchase of an overpriced CT scanner by Piešťany Hospital.