HUNDREDS of companies, including private ambulance firms, hospitals and other new companies, expressed interest in obtaining licenses to operate ambulance services in Slovakia.
The Health Ministry announced tenders for 128 ambulance licenses. The ministry will select the winners by the end of August, the daily Pravda reported.
In total there will be 259 ambulance districts in Slovakia. Companies that get licenses will be responsible for providing all ambulance services in the given districts, and will have to be at the scene of any emergency within 15 minutes of receiving a call, according to the law.
After selecting the first 128 ambulance license holders, the ministry will announce a competition for a further 76 licenses.
