Appeal for the salvation of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo: Urgent dismissal of the Management requested

A group of Bosnian professors, journalists, artists, and other public figures have requested the urgent dismissal of the Management of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo, due to the crisis at the most important health institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In a letter signed by professors Rusmir Mahmutćehajić, Enver Kazaz, Esad Bajtal, Slavo Kukić, Nerzuk Ćurak, and others, they call on competent institutions, responsible individuals, and the entire Bosnian public to stop the further collapse of the UCC, the mobbing of doctors, and the departure of the best medical professionals from the country.

"We, the undersigned citizens, express our strongest protest against the situation at the University Clinical Center Sarajevo and the methods used by the current Management, and against the unacceptable treatment of doctors at the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology," the letter states, reports NAP.

As results of the Management of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo, referring to publicly available data and testimonies of employees and patients, the signatories of the letter state:

- the introduction of radical austerity measures that have caused a shortage of basic medicines, materials, and equipment for treatment, thereby endangering the lives and health of patients;

- pressure on employees of the Clinical Center, with gross use of threats and blackmail;

- dissatisfaction and fear among employees and patients;

- the departure of a large number of qualified medical staff from the Clinical Center and Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- the fact that an increasing number of citizens are forced to seek healthcare, which they have already paid for, in other medical institutions in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as abroad.

"The latest in a series of actions that further erode public trust in the legality of public institutions' work is the attitude of the Clinical Center Management towards the doctors of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology. It is tragic and alarming that some of the most respected doctors, professors, and scientists are now exposed to the arbitrary decisions of the Management. Can Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina afford the luxury of continuing to lose their best doctors due to irresponsible management of the Clinical Center?

We are addressing the public in this way due to our concern and conviction that the continuation of tolerating the current practices of the Management could have unforeseeable consequences not only for the healthcare system but also for the entire Bosnian society and all citizens, given the importance of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo. Therefore, the urgent dismissal of the Management Board of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo and the current Management is a necessary step in overcoming the current situation. We call on all competent institutions, responsible individuals, and the entire Bosnian public to stop the further collapse of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo," the letter addressed to the public states.

The letter is signed by:

Enes Duraković
Dino Mustafić
Rusmir Mahmutćehajić
Edina Bećirević
Nerzuk Ćurak
Edina Kamenica
Enver Kazaz
Drago Bojić
Senada Kreso
Boro Kontić
Ivan Šarčević
Asim Haračić
Vedrana Seksan
Zija Dizdarević
Saša Rukavina
Rasim Gačanović
Mehmed Halilović
Jovan Divjak
Selma Đuliman
Ahmed Burić
Ozren Kebo
Zlatko Dizdarevic
Slavo Kukić
Amer Bahtijar
Esad Bajtal
Štefica Galić
Dragan Stupar
Husnija Kamberović
Sinan Alić
Vlado Azinović
Hadžem Hajdarević