Ahmić: A wrong image of the Health Center KS has been created in public

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Acting Director of the JU Health Center KS Muhamed Ahmić said that this institution provides medical care under difficult conditions, but that they are already working to make that service faster, more efficient, and safer.

Guesting on N1 television's Novi dan show, Ahmić said he believes the situation in health centers has improved compared to the initial days, and that patients are now getting answers more easily via phone lines. He reminded that yesterday they renewed the phone numbers intended for people who suspect they are infected with coronavirus, while all other numbers have been active for other patients and their problems for a long time.

"I ordered that patient flow protocols be immediately adopted and that the imposed measures must be respected, even though they make the work of colleagues in health centers more difficult. The reception and processing speed of patients cannot be as fast as usual, but we are working on improving all aspects of healthcare provision in KS. It is not easy, but the goal is to improve the treatment of patients with suspected coronavirus and others," said Ahmić.

Activities on creating Covid clinics have already begun, and some health centers already have separate units for patients suspected of having coronavirus. These facilities will have a separate entrance, and examinations and diagnostics will be performed there. They will also work on simplifying the process of taking swabs for coronavirus testing.

Regarding the three deaths of patients who sought help from health centers and were infected with coronavirus, Ahmić said that the investigation is being conducted by the KS Prosecutor's Office and that he hopes the findings will be objective and exonerating for them.

"The fact that someone who is positive for coronavirus dies does not mean they died from that infection. Colleagues should present data on clinical pictures and severity. It does not necessarily mean that the patient died from coronavirus; they could have died from a heart attack or stroke, etc.," he said.

He emphasized that the JU Health Center KS now has enough protective equipment, and that two days ago they received 1,000 swabs for coronavirus testing.

"The spotlight should not be focused on sick leave. Around 2,200 employees work at the JU Health Center, and about a hundred people on sick leave is not a significant number. All employees of the Health Center perform their jobs under very difficult conditions, and I claim that the image created about health centers in public is completely wrong," he stressed.

In the end, he said that he is sure that the Sarajevo Canton, if we adhere to the recommendations of the crisis headquarters, will overcome the pandemic and that the situation will improve.