Agel Denies Wrongdoing in Ambulance Tender, Considers Legal Action

Bratislava, 6 August (TASR) – The Agel company rejects any suspicions regarding the recent ambulance service tender and claims that it purchased ambulances from its own funds before terms of the tender were announced and without knowing the outcome, PR and public relations director Nancy Zavodska told TASR on Wednesday. Agel also denies any links to members of the selection committee and warns that media reports and statements by some opposition politicians are damaging its reputation. If attacks continue, the company will consider legal action. „We understand the public’s right to information about the tender (...). However, many of the published reports and public statements by opposition politicians are in sharp contradiction to the facts. They often contain twisted disinformation and inaccuracies – even outright lies – which harm our company’s good name," Zavodska said. Agel says it began considering participation in the tender back in 2022. It entered the selection process via Agel Merea, a joint-stock company it describes as the largest provider of patient transport services in Slovakia. The expansion into emergency medical care was a logical step, the company argues. „We have all the necessary resources, high-quality equipment and staff, and relevant experience," the company stated, emphasising that it entered the tender independently under the Agel Merea brand. Agel justified the early purchase of ambulances by the need to secure specialised vehicles well in advance. „Production capacities for such vehicles are booked up a year ahead with reputable suppliers. (...) Speculation that we knew in advance how many ambulances to buy because we knew how many stations we would win in the tender is utter nonsense," Zavodska stressed. She said the decision to order the vehicles was made in September 2024, before the legal framework or tender conditions were even known. The ambulances were purchased from Czech company Medsol and produced in Poland by Autoform. „We emphasise that these ambulances are not – and have never been – stored in Vlkanova. (...) We only confirmed to the aktuality.sk news website that we rent storage spaces in various parts of Slovakia for our medical equipment, including our fleet for transporting lab samples, biological material, or organs for transplant," she added. If unsuccessful in the tender, Agel plans to use the ambulances in its patient transport operations or sell them elsewhere in the EU. Agel also denies any personal links to the tender commission. „It is true, as we have previously confirmed, that the chairman of Agel’s board, Michal Pisoja, worked more than ten years ago in two companies alongside Mr. Ovciarik, one of the media-named commission members. However, they never met in Agel or in any other healthcare company," Zavodska stated. She reiterated that Agel has never had any influence over the commission’s makeup or decisions. The ambulance tender has faced criticism from the opposition, the ruling Slovak National Party (SNS), and the Doctor Labour Union Association. President Peter Pellegrini has urged Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) to ensure the tender complies with the law. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated he will insist on cancelling and restarting the tender if doubts are not resolved. The Health Ministry insists the tender is proceeding according to the law and standard procedures, and it views the opposition's actions as political posturing and fear-mongering. Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok declared his full support for the minister. The tender concerns the operation of 344 land-based ambulance stations and seven air ambulance bases. mf