ÚDZS head Gajdoš steps down in protest

The head of the independent Health-Care Supervisory Authority (ÚDZS) Ján Gajdoš, who had been in office since August 2010, stepped down from his post on Wednesday, June 27, the TASR newswire learnt.

The head of the independent Health-Care Supervisory Authority (ÚDZS) Ján Gajdoš, who had been in office since August 2010, stepped down from his post on Wednesday, June 27, the TASR newswire learnt.

Gajdoš said that he wanted to show his disagreement with an amendment to the health-insurance law that introduces new conditions for dismissing the head of ÚDZS. While previous legislation only allowed the government to dismiss the head if he had been convicted of a crime or stripped of his legal powers, the new legislation makes it possible for the government to dismiss him for any reason.

"The ÚDZS chair is practically becoming a subordinate of the health minister, which means that the ÚDZS is no longer independent," said Gajdoš, adding that the ÚDZS is no longer able to engage in unbiased supervision over state health-insurer Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (VšZP) and state health-care providers. Gajdoš was dismissed from the same post during Robert Fico's first government (2006-10).

"I refuse to take part in the same scenario as in 2007. I view it as political hypocrisy, because the decision on my dismissal was made a long time ago and I don't want to be there when they are looking for fabricated reasons," Gajdoš asserted.

Source: TASR

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

Top stories

Two bear incidents over weekend, an effort to revive Bratislava calvary, and storks in Trnava.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad