Health Minister Kalavska Wants to Oust UDZS Head Tomas Hasko

Bratislava, October 4 (TASR) – Health Minister Andrea Kalavska (a Smer-SD nominee) is lodging a proposal to oust Office for Health-care Supervision (UDZS) head Tomas Hasko due to “serious reasons that invite doubts over a UDZS tender” for emergency service licences, TASR learnt from ministry spokesperson Zuzana Eliasova on Friday.

Kalavska opted for the ouster after meeting representatives of an emergency services chamber and based on available information. “In order not to interfere with procedures taken by law-enforcement bodies, the ministry won’t make any comments on details … despite the fact that the content of these media reports is disturbing,” said Eliasova.

In addition, the Health Ministry announced that a legislative amendment is in the works to set rules and guidelines for selection proceedings on emergency health services that won’t “inspire any doubts regarding the legality or transparency of this process and will rule out any suspicions of the kind reported in recent days and weeks”. Kalavska is expected to submit the motion to the House health-care committee at its autumn session.

SME daily broke the news of links between the tender winner, LSE-Life Star Emergency, and members of the selection committee. Hasko denies any bias on the part of the committee and insists that the tender took place in full compliance with the law.

Kalavska confirmed that the ministry has lodged a complaint and that the National Crime Agency is looking into the case.