Scientists Criticize Slovak Public Broadcaster for Reinstating Controversial Doctor

The return of Igor Bukovský to STVR, Slovakia's public broadcaster, has drawn sharp criticism from the country's scientific community. The science advocacy platform Žijem vedu (I Live Science) condemned the decision, arguing that STVR is acting in direct contradiction to its legal mandate, which requires the broadcaster to provide verified, balanced, and socially beneficial information. Critics contend that Bukovský's popularity should not override standards of medical ethics in a public broadcasting environment. Bukovský is a controversial Slovak doctor who has previously attracted scrutiny over his medical views and public statements. STVR, funded by public money and bound by public service obligations, is required by law to uphold informational accuracy and responsibility — standards that critics argue are being compromised by platforming figures whose positions conflict with mainstream medical consensus. The controversy highlights growing tensions in Slovakia between public institutions and the scientific community over the spread of misleading health information through official media channels.