SaS Calls for Scrapping of Tender for Air Ambulance Services

Bratislava, 23 June (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party called on Monday on Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) to scrap the €80 million tender for a helicopter emergency medical service. MP Tomas Szalay (SaS) stated that it favours the current operator. SaS is therefore preparing complaints to the Public Procurement Office (UVO) and the Antimonopoly Office (PMU). "You can only get an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), which authorises you to carry out aviation activities, on the basis of a contract with the Health Ministry, you won't get it without a contract, but you'll get a contract only after you win the tender. Exactly one company that operates helicopters today can fulfil the condition," noted Szalay. The MP also pointed out that the applicant must have a building, premises and a heliport with night operations prior to the competition. Again, according to the MP, this favours the current operator, Air-Transport Europe, as it already has the facilities in place. "Anyone else would have to contract it, ensure it, build it, and it isn't possible for such a condition to be met," noted Szalay. am/mcs