Parliament: Sasko Presents Plan for Changes in EMS, Opposition Voices Criticism

Bratislava, 28 January (TASR) – Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) presented a plan for changes in the emergency medical services (EMS) system at an extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary health-care committee held on Wednesday, facing criticism from opposition MPs for not having consulted the representatives of emergency services. During the meeting convened at the request of opposition MPs from Progressive Slovakia (PS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and 'Slovakia', the minister announced that he will hold discussions with all stakeholders. Opposition MPs stated that the existing system was functioning well and that setting up the tender for ambulance services in a transparent manner was all that was needed. MPs Frantisek Majersky (KDH) and Oskar Dvorak (PS) criticised Sasko for not having discussed the plan in advance with any organisations representing paramedics. "Not a single paramedic would say that this will work," said Majersky. Dvorak added that he would have preferred to learn about the proposed changes at the parliamentary health committee rather than from a press conference. According to opposition MPs, hospitals already have problems operating their accident and emergency departments and now the ministry wants them to take care of providing ambulance services as well. Peter Stachura (KDH) and Tomas Szalay (SaS) are also concerned about the financing issues, fearing that additional funds earmarked for EMS will be diverted away from ambulance services, with state hospitals using them to cover their own losses. MP Julius Jakab ('Slovakia') criticised the ministry's inability to manage the tender transparently, which is why they want to get rid of it through a 'reform' that will be postponed indefinitely. Sasko maintained that the committee meeting was held to present the plan rather than specific legislative proposal, and that the first concrete proposals will be ready within two weeks. "I am gradually inviting those concerned to bilateral meetings in order to present this plan to them. Within two weeks or so, I will convene the platform representing all professional chambers, including paramedics," said Sasko, adding that the final legislative proposal will be presented to the parliamentary health-care committee for political debate as part of interdepartmental review. Health-care committee chair Vladimir Balaz (Smer-SD) stated that neither the debate nor the final proposal for changes can proceed without the representatives of paramedics. "We want to know their opinion, there's no problem with that, and if I were in their place, I wouldn't be worried for now," he said, adding that the aim is for the system to function properly. According to Balaz, the committee tasked Sasko with ensuring that the health ministry provides a legal opinion to the protests and lawsuits filed by Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka in connection with the ambulance tender. Under the new plan, ambulance services could fall under the remit of hospitals with accident and emergency departments within their catchment areas. Outside these areas, ambulances would operate under Bratislava's and Kosice's EMS systems, which will be supplemented by an integrated rescue system. Hospitals and the state can provide EMS in their own name, or via entities set up with 100-percent ownership, or through a third party. jrg