Czech military officials are taking steps to address ongoing reports of bullying and harassment at an air ambulance base near Plzeň, following renewed scrutiny of the working environment.
The Ministry of Defence released a statement Saturday detailing its handling of the situation, including previously undisclosed details of an internal investigation. The move comes after multiple doctors and healthcare workers came forward alleging repeated humiliation, verbal abuse, excessive criticism, and unreasonable tasks.
“Bossing at the base clearly persists. This manifests, among other things, in targeted fault-finding, punishment for any infraction, and belittling of our experience,” one respondent told reporters.
When contacted for comment, the Ministry of Defence directed inquiries to the Military Health Agency, which stated that the base’s chief, Piskačová, had been disciplined, but did not specify the nature of the punishment. The agency also declined to release the findings of the workplace investigation.
Ombudsman Recommended Piskačová’s Removal
The issues date back to late 2024, when ten employees of the air ambulance service filed a complaint against Piskačová. A subsequent investigation by the Chief Inspector for Human Rights found the allegations of bullying and bossing to be justified.
Jan Třináctý, Director of the Military Health Agency, was then tasked with taking appropriate action, including an anonymous questionnaire survey.
The Ministry of Defence has now released details of the survey’s results. “It highlighted significantly fractured personal and professional relationships between the chief and her direct subordinates, a situation suggesting potential risks to the provision of healthcare,” the statement read.
Warnings Were Issued
Previously, the Ministry of Defence had been more reserved, refusing to disclose what punishment Piskačová received.
The Ombudsman, following the investigation at the conclude of 2024, recommended that the identified shortcomings indicative of abuse of command authority be addressed and necessary measures taken.
Further questionnaire surveys were conducted in July and August. However, Lada Ferkálová, a spokesperson for the Military Health Agency, initially refused to release the results, and also denied that any official complaints or reports regarding Piskačová were currently on file with the army or the Ministry of Defence.
Those statements were refuted by the healthcare workers who spoke to reporters, who said that at least two employees explicitly stated they were leaving due to harassment and their superior’s behavior.
Řehka’s Actions Were Ineffective, Defence Said
The Ministry now acknowledges that no improvement in relations between the chief and the unit’s personnel has occurred, even with the passage of time. “On the contrary, newly obtained data indicates a deterioration,” the statement said.
The Chief Inspector recommended Piskačová’s removal as early as September of last year, and also informed then-Minister of Defence Jana Černochová. “Despite these findings and recommendations, the Chief of the General Staff (note: Karel Řehka) expressed disagreement with taking action in October,” the Ministry said Saturday. Řehka instead opted for other measures, which proved ineffective.
The Ombudsman subsequently expressed concern, noting that the army command is responsible for ensuring the professional and managerial operation of the air ambulance service in Líny, a state which, according to him, is not currently being met.
