KDH: Health Minister Withholds Key Information on Ambulance Service Tender

Bratislava, 15 July (TASR) – The opposition's Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) claims that Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) is concealing key information and misleading the public regarding the ambulance service tender, TASR learnt on Tuesday. According to KDH, the selection criteria are unclear and the identities of the commission members remain undisclosed - despite legal obligations under the Freedom of Information Act. „The criteria for selecting providers are vague. In order to meet them, it’s sufficient to merely declare that you will have the equipment and crew in the future. Minister Sasko either does not know this or is deliberately lying when he claims the selection committee has clear, objective criteria to work with. That’s simply false," said MP Frantisek Majersky (KDH). He argued there is no valid reason for withholding the names of commission members. KDH also criticized Sasko’s claim that public ambulance services would hold more than 50 percent market share. According to the party, the Bratislava state ambulance service will have fewer stations because it already exceeds the 25 percent market limit. „The minister also says the same limit applies to private operators. However, to bypass it, all they need to do is change their company ID number and they can win the whole tender. This looks more like a guaranteed profit scheme backed by the state than a fair ambulance tender," said MP Peter Stachura (KDH). On Monday (14 July), the Health Ministry claimed that the accusations constitute an attempt to manipulate public opinion and score cheap political points on a sensitive issue. The ministry said the names of the commission members will be published. The ministry's statement followed a press conference by opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS), which called for an emergency special session of the House Health Committee over the ambulance tender. The call was supported by opposition party 'Slovakia', and the conditions of the tender were criticized by the opposition SaS party as well. mf