SaS Calls on Lorenc to Step Down as Health Ministry Service Office Secretary

Bratislava, 23 January (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has called on general secretary at the Health Ministry's service office Tomas Lorenc to step down from his post due to suspicions related to the case of water-pipe replacements at Trencin Faculty Hospital, as well as public procurement procedures for software and IT services, SaS health expert Tomas Szalay told a press conference on Friday. "We've learnt that whistleblowers at the Health Ministry have reported strange tenders for software and IT services. This matter is being investigated as we speak. Apparently, not all procedural requirements have been complied with," said Szalay, adding that this falls under Lorenc's responsibility. Szalay went on to say that Lorenc joined the ministry under former health minister Zuzana Dolinkova (2023-24) and that he's a person close to Voice-SD chairman Matus Sutaj Estok. According to Szalay, Lorenc is "in constant conflict" with Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD). "I don't think that the ministry can function properly when its senior officials are clashing with each other," said Szalay. jrg/df