Let's Stop Corruption Urges Health Minister to Publish Ambulance Tender Details

Bratislava, 5 August (TASR) – The Let's Stop Corruption Foundation called on Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) to release information regarding the tender of ambulance service licences, criticising the process for its lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest, TASR learnt from deputy director of Let's Stop Corruption Martin Suchy on Tuesday. "The Health Ministry is currently deciding on one of the largest and likely most important projects of the current government. Ambulance service licences worth approximately two billion euros are being allocated across Slovakia for the next six years. However, from the beginning, the process has lacked transparency, clarity from those responsible, and clear rules,” the foundation stated. According to the foundation, suspicions have grown that certain individuals with ties to bidders may have influenced both the structure of the tender and the selection of service providers. „The tender must not become a ‘golden piggy bank’ for a few well-connected actors. This can only be prevented through pressure for expertise, independence, and transparency. We are therefore sending a call to the minister to publish the committee’s scoring and the winning projects in a fair manner,” said Xenia Makarova from the foundation. The foundation is demanding that the minister disclose the list of bidders, their ranking, detailed scoring, and project proposals. It has expressed readiness to examine the documents. „If we find violations of the law, we will approach the relevant oversight authorities. In particular, the law is relatively strict regarding potential conflicts of interest among members of the selection committee,” said the foundation’s lawyer Lubomir Danko. Representatives of all the opposition parties have also urged the minister to cancel the ambulance tender, reopen the competition, and ensure its transparent execution. They are collecting signatures for his dismissal and are calling on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to remove the minister if the suspicions are confirmed. The opposition is also finalising submissions to the Prosecutor-General’s Office and the Public Procurement Authority, which they are prepared to file once the tender results are announced. The tender has also faced criticism from the coalition party Slovak National Party (SNS) and the Doctors Union Association. President Peter Pellegrini has asked Minister Sasko to ensure the tender complies with the law. The Health Ministry has stated that the tender process is being conducted in a standard manner and in full compliance with applicable legislation. It will provide further information after the process concludes. mf/mcs