LOZ Wants Ministry to Revise Composition of Ambulance Service Tender Commission

Bratislava, 31 July (TASR) - The Doctors Trade Union Association (LOZ) has called on the Health Ministry to revise the composition of the commission deciding on the ambulance service tender. LOZ wants the commission to feature only experts without links to entities competing in the tender and without any suspicion of a conflict of interests. It's appealed to President Peter Pellegrini to support the replacement of commission members. "When it comes to the ambulance service and saving human lives, it must be about quality, not about business plans. The ambulance service can't be the subject of non-transparent agreements. This tender must be carried out in a clear and fair manner and in line with the public interest. We're calling on the president to press actively for the tender to be conducted in a morally flawless manner and to support the replacement of commission members who may be suspected of a conflict of interest or incompetence," said LOZ president Peter Visolajsky. In particular, LOZ criticised Jakub Hornak's nomination as the commission chairman, as he has no professional experience in health care or ambulance services. "It's unacceptable that a tender amounting to €2 billion in the field of saving human lives should be decided by a person whose qualification is experience in retail chain management," said Visolajsky. LOZ views the alleged inclusion of Matej Ovciarka in the commission as problematic as well. "Equally worrying is the fact that Mr. Ovciarka had personal ties to people in the management of a company called Agel, which isn't hiding its ambition to win the tender. Such ties raise serious doubts about the impartiality of the entire procedure," stated Visolajsky. The opposition 'Slovakia' party claims that friends of the competitors are influencing decisions in the ambulance service tender. According to MP and former health minister Marek Krajci ('Slovakia'-For the People-Christian Union alliance), the selection commission includes individuals closely linked to the Agel group. Other opposition parties have also criticised the tender conditions, calling them non-transparent. President Peter Pellegrini has urged the minister to ensure legal compliance in the process. The Health Ministry has stated that the selection process will be conducted properly, transparently and in accordance with set rules. Agel SK has told TASR that it won't comment on the matter at this time. ko/df