CroatiaThe article reports on concerns raised by veterinarians regarding a €20 million state-funded tender managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Two main issues were identified: first, the Veterinary Station Varazdin received points for a veterinary technician who had not passed a professional exam, while the bid from Veterinary Station Novi Marof was rejected for the same reason. Second, Veterinarian Antonela Wendling highlighted that her clinic, which played a crucial role in controlling an outbreak of African swine fever, remains without public authority status despite meeting the required criteria. The tender rules and evaluation criteria were created by Siniša Mandek, head of the Sector for Organization of Veterinary Activities, who also chairs the committee deciding on awarding public authorities. The article notes that representatives of veterinary organizations, including those participating in the tender, were involved in drafting the guidelines.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a systemic failure favoring large systems over local clinics, highlighting potential conflicts of interest and lack of transparency in the tender process. It emphasizes the negative impact on smaller, community-based veterinary services and criticizes the involvement,
