Krajci Criticises Ambulance Service Tender Terms as Non-Transparent

Bratislava, 4 August (TASR) - Former health minister and MP Marek Krajci ('Slovakia', For the People, Christian Union/KU) has been repeatedly criticising the terms of the ambulance service tender as non-transparent, saying that newly established companies having no technical background or personnel were also allowed to join, he told a press conference on Monday, adding that the 'Slovakia' party has a list of bidders at its disposal. "This entire tender is set up in a way that anyone could start a new company and apply. They didn't have to have ambulances ready at all, they didn't have to have employees who would work at the ambulance stations," Krajci explained. According to him, the bidders would only need to submit a single project based on which the selection commission would decide to assign the ambulance station. "As the project may be subject to secrecy, it is enough for the bidders to say that they do not agree with the publication of their project because it constitutes their intellectual property; thus we will never know the grounds on which it became the winning project. Therefore, this competition is, of course, non-transparent," clarified Krajci. He noted the 'Slovakia' party considers the list of companies to be real. "We tried to verify some of the companies and, indeed, they are really among the bidders," added Krajci, noting that, according to available information, the Agel group could attempt to win more than 25 percent of stations through another company, thus breaching the law. The coalition's Slovak National Party (SNS) called on President Peter Pellegrini recently to request the cancelation of the ambulance service tender. Its conditions are also criticised by other opposition parties and the Doctors' Trade Union Association. Pellegrini had asked Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) to ensure the competition complies with the law. The Health Ministry stated in response that the selection process will proceed properly, transparently, and in line with set conditions. Also, MP Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) announced on Sunday (3 August) that in case a lack of transparency or intentional misconduct is proven in the tender, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) will respond decisively. The Agel company has rejected allegations of manipulation or backroom deals in the ambulance tender. The company says they applied for the tender in order to be able to continue providing high-quality healthcare services to patients. jrg/mcs/ko