LOZ: Slovakia Needs Emergency Medical Service Reform, Not New Tender

Bratislava, 25 August (TASR) - Slovakia needs more than just a new tender and further promises of transparency, it needs a systemic reform of the emergency medical service (EMS) that puts patients and state interests at the forefront, while limiting profit opportunities for financial groups, the Doctors Trade Union Association (LOZ) stated on Monday. Hoping that Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) will manage to push these changes through, the LOZ expressed their willingness to cooperate in their preparation. "The tender scandal has revealed that, due to errors in legislation, the interests of financial groups can outweigh the public interest, which is unacceptable. The LOZ therefore believes that the health minister will bring about a fundamental change to this system, and that this reform will enjoy broad support from the expert community, as well as coalition and opposition politicians. The LOZ is willing to assist in reaching this consensus and to organise a round-table of experts across the political spectrum on this topic," said LOZ head Peter Visolajsky. Doctors' union is concerned about Sasko's statements concerning the future of the tender or the reform of the EMS, fearing that the current situation will only lead to "cosmetic" changes in a new tender without changing the system. Despite his assurances that the availability of healthcare will be maintained, it is not clear whether the minister plans to push for the EMS reform or whether Slovakia will only face another tender. "Not only experts, but also Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), other coalition partners, and some opposition politicians are calling for an essential change to the system, with the state enjoying a stronger position," Visolajsky noted. The tender for ambulance service licences was criticised both by the opposition and the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS). Sasko asked the Prosecutor-General's Office to investigate the legality of the tender process. The tender was officially cancelled on 13 August by the Emergency Medical Services Operations Centre. Expert analyses are intended to show how the operation of ambulance services could be set up in the best way possible, with three options presented to date - the nationalisation of ambulance services, priority rights granted to the state and public organisations to operate ambulance services, and integrating ambulances into a so-called integrated rescue system. jrg/mcs