Multiple blood donors gain preferential or free access to cultural institutions

Blood donors - holders of the medal Ján Kňazovický, Janske Gold Plaque and Janske Diamond Plaque will be able to benefit from the preferential or free access to selected cultural institutions within the scope of the cultural department - from galleries and museums to libraries to theatres and philharmonics. This brings a memorandum of cooperation signed today by the Minister of Health Kamil Šaško and the Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová. His goal is to honor and thank voluntary blood donors.
Voluntary blood donors save thousands of lives each year by their selfless decision and prove that solidarity, self-sacrifice and willingness to help are still in place in Slovakia. The memorandum is a sign of social recognition for people who give others the most valuable - a chance to live without a reward.
–Every two minutes someone in Slovakia needs blood. He needs it to live. And the only one who can give him that hope is man. A man who does this without expecting anything. Today, together with the Ministry of Culture, we are sending a clear message to these people: we respect you. We want voluntary blood donors to feel that their dedication is recognised and appreciated by society. I believe that this initiative will also motivate other people to join the donor community and help save lives, said Minister of Health Kamil Šaško.
Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová stressed that culture can also play an important role in the appreciation of people who, by their selflessness, save lives. The voluntary blood donors deserve our respect and respect. I am glad that through cultural institutions we can express our gratitude to those who help save lives. I believe that this cooperation will also contribute to increasing the social prestige of voluntary blood donation and motivating others to engage in this noble activity;Martina Šimkovičová, Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic, said.

Several important cultural institutions will be involved in the project from 1 July 2026, including the Slovak National Gallery, Slovak National Museum, Slovak National Library in Martin, BIBIANA, International House of Arts for Children, Slovak Technical Museum in Košice, Slovak Central Observatory in Hurbanovo, University Library in Bratislava and state scientific libraries in Košice, Banská Bystrica and Prešov. In the course of September and October, other cultural organizations will be added, including the Slovak National Theatre, the National Theatre Košice, the Slovak Philharmonic, the State Philharmonic Košice, the Nová Scene Theatre. Next year, the National Education Centre will also be involved, which organizes the Festival of East and Scene Harvest.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic appreciates the long-term work of the Slovak National Transfusion Service, which plays a key role in ensuring sufficient blood supply and development of voluntary non-contributory donations in Slovakia. In Slovakia, about 180 thousand voluntary donors donate blood each year and their regular donations are irreplaceable to ensure health care.