Health Ministry: Opposition Tries to Scare People with Ambulance Tender

Bratislava, 5 August (TASR) – The entire process of the tender for ambulance service providers is proceeding in accordance with legally established rules, the Health Ministry stated on Tuesday in response to a joint appeal by opposition parties to cancel the public procurement due to ongoing doubts. The ministry views the opposition's activities as political manoeuvring and fearmongering. It claims that the opposition has found a “shared lie and a problem that is not a problem.” „Ambulance services are guaranteed. We are shortening ambulance response times to increase the chances of saving lives and protecting health,” the ministry said. It emphasised that the current procurement follows rules which the opposition, when previously in power, did not change. Representatives of all opposition parties called on Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice–SD) at a joint press conference on Tuesday to cancel the tender, reopen the competition, and ensure a transparent process. They are also collecting signatures for his dismissal and are urging Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to remove the minister if suspicions are confirmed. Later in the day, the Prime Minister published a statement acknowledging that questions remain around the tender and that Sasko must publicly address them. Fico warned that if the minister — expected to comment on Monday, 11 August — fails to dispel doubts or if the result of the tender proves to be an “obvious absurdity weakening the state,” he will insist on cancelling and redoing the tender. The tender has been criticised not only by the opposition but also by the coalition party Slovak National Party (SNS) and the Doctors Labour Union Association. President Peter Pellegrini also stressed the need for transparency in the process. mf