VsZP Won't Extend Contracts Involving Former Director's Aunt

Bratislava, April 27 (TASR) – The state-run health insurer Vseobecna Zdravotna Poistovna (VsZP) won’t extend contracts with companies Welix, Brilance and SPV linked to an aunt of former VsZP director Marcel Forai, beyond June 30, insurer spokesperson Petra Balazova told TASR on Wednesday.

Current VsZP head Miroslav Vadura described the signing of the contracts as a moral failure of his predecessor Forai, who had to resign over the case in September.

“I don’t see any reason to extend the contracts at a time when VsZP has sufficiently covered its minimum network in the services concerned. Moreover, negative media reports on these companies certainly haven’t helped the insurer’s good reputation,” said Vadura.

“I’m pleased that the wasting of Slovak policyholders’ money will be stopped, but I view it as a key move to hold the VsZP leadership accountable for the case,” said independent MP Miroslav Beblavy, who made the case public last year. Beblavy noted that Vadura was a member of the Board at VsZP when the contracts were signed, and he also okayed the signing.

Beblavy last year pointed to VsZP’s contracts with seven companies featuring Forai’s aunt Anna Suckova – Bravia, Brilance, Medical Cassovia, Medical Partners, Medimas, SPV40 and Welix. At least one of these contracts will continue to be in force beyond June 30, however. Meanwhile, the Health Care Supervisory Authority (UDZS) has stated, following a probe into the affair, that Suckova’s companies were not given preferential treatment by VsZP.