Slovakia’s Health Ministry is preparing a legal complaint against the Sme daily for what it called “scaremongering” in an article entitled 'Emergency Services Experiencing Problems with Medications' that Sme published on pages 1 and 7 of its January 17 edition, the Health Ministry’s spokesperson, Katarína Zollerová, told the TASR newswire.
The ministry spokesperson said all emergency units are working at 100 percent and health care is fully provided and operating well.
"Emergency and Transport Service Bratislava (ZDZS) has enough medications and medical supplies available to ensure smooth and continued urgent medical assistance to all patients in accordance with the law," reads the ministry statement.
The head of ZDZS Bratislava, Vratko Šoka, also gave assurances that people should not be alarmed. "Their health and lives aren't in danger," he stated, adding that all emergency units have enough medication and medical supplies.
Sme reported in its article that several units of the medical emergency services in Bratislava and Nitra are short of medical supplies such as needles, syringes, magnesium and adrenaline. The daily wrote that the units blame the lack of essential materials on new rules introduced by Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik. According to the new system, supplies are acquired via public procurement and are approved by the ministry and Sme wrote that there have been claims that this draws out the process.
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.
