PREAMBLE
The introduction of an ethical code in the public procurement system at the Ministry of Health is targeted to avoid possible corruption, bribery and inefficient spending of public funds. The Code of Conduct for Public Procurement in question follows the Code of Ethics of the Civil Servants
Basic structure of the Code of Ethics for employees and other persons participating in public procurement for the Ministry of Health:
A. Part 1: General provisions

  1. All employees, active in public procurement, in carrying out their activities, are concerned with compliance with the general principles of ethics.
  2. For employees in the civil service, active in public procurement, the general principles of ethical proceedings arise from the relevant provisions and principles of the Civil Service Act and the Code of Ethics of the Slovak State employee.
  3. The principles of impartiality and professionalism, as well as the principles of honesty, correctness, non-acceptance of gifts, avoidance of conflicts of interest and a general starting point defining the ethical dimension of their conduct, are applicable to public-interest employees.
  4. The Code of Conduct for Public Procurement further defines in more detail the basic principles and standards of procedure for all tenderers. The Code of Conduct on Public Procurement is a binding standard for organisations the founder of which is the government authority and the recommended standard for all other organisations active in public procurement that can apply to its implementation by developing its content in internal binding standards.

B. Part 2: Specific provisions
B1: Basic ethical principles in public procurement:
Honesty and integrity.
Compliance with legality.
Professionalism.
Understanding public procurement as a public service activity
Responsible management for public procurement, based on the principles of project management and towards preventive minimization of the scope for corruption by correct and comprehensive preparation and implementation of individual procurement steps (e.g. by correct processing of tender documents, evaluation of tenders, etc.).
B2: Basic ethical standards in public procurement:
Procurement without prejudice, equal and impartial access to each tenderer.

Increasing knowledge of public procurement, participating in further training to improve individual performance.
Promoting honesty in business and reporting all forms of inappropriate business practices in public procurement.
Disclosure of any personal interest.
Publicity and accuracy of information, confidentiality.
Avoiding the application of any mechanism that would limit an equivalent competitive environment.
Don't accept donations and attentions (outside but also among employees) in connection with the performance of public contracts, as well as gifts and attentions that could raise suspicion of a breach of impartiality.
The assessment of the personal gain obtained through the abuse of relations arising from public procurement is dehonesteable and unacceptable.
Early identification of situations where there may be conflicts of interest in the conduct of public procurement, prevention, notification and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
Avoiding misuse of non-public information related to public procurement for personal or collective benefit, including in the transition to other employment.
Rejection of any influence by other persons (including superiors) in carrying out procurement activities, maintaining the integrity of a professional manager in the performance of public procurement.
Avoid any influence on the conduct of the procurement from the position of superior, in particular towards the staff performing the procurement.
Avoid any influence on third parties directly or indirectly involved in the procurement process, whether as the managing and executive staff of the contracting authority, suppliers or other entities.