SNS Again Calls on President to Take Action Regarding Ambulance Tender

Bratislava, 6 August (TASR) - The junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) is again calling on President Peter Pellegrini to do his utmost to ensure that Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) scraps the ambulance service tender, pointing to inefficient spending, SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova informed TASR on Wednesday. SNS pointed to the inefficiency of emergency service expenditures under the system introduced by former health minister Rudolf Zajac [2002/2006]. "Zajac's fees seem like a trifle when compared to the ambulance service system. The ambulance service system is speculative and needs to be abolished in its entirety," stated SNS. The party views it as inconceivable for the state to pay €2 billion for more than 300 ambulance stations over six years. "It is clear that if the state's costs per ambulance station are €100,000, the profit per ambulance station, when deducting wage costs, amortisation of the price of ambulances and rent for non-residential premises, amounts to 40 percent," stated SNS, adding that as much as €800 million of the total sum could be saved. The ambulance tender has also been criticised by opposition parties and the Doctors Labour Union Association (LOZ). President Peter Pellegrini has asked Sasko to adhere to the law in the tender. Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has said that if Sasko fails to dispel doubts surrounding the ambulance service tender, he will insist on cancelling it and restarting the competition. The Health Ministry has stated that the tender is being conducted in a standard manner and fully in accordance with current legislation. The tender concerns the operation of 344 ground ambulance stations and seven air ambulance units. ko/df