To deliver a higher quality list of medicines for the Sarajevo Canton

On the occasion of establishing a new decision on the list of medicines for the Sarajevo Canton and its harmonization with the federal essential list, the Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konaković organized and held a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Sarajevo Canton, the Institute for Health Insurance (ZZO), directors of all cantonal public health institutions, as well as members of the Commission for Medicines of the Sarajevo Canton which prepared the proposal for the future list, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- The Government's commitment is that the adoption of this important document be as transparent as possible, that the profession be consulted, but also that a serious revision of the list currently in use in the Sarajevo Canton be carried out. Our goal is to obtain a higher quality new list of medicines whose changes will not be at the expense of the citizens of our canton, but of those who, through various manipulations with medicines on the list, achieved personal gain and thus damaged the budget, while depriving citizens of better healthcare services - stated Prime Minister Konaković.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the costs of the ZZO for medicines on the essential list increase by about five million KM each year, and that over the last four years they have reached a figure of about 20 million KM. If this trend continues, there is a risk of undermining the healthcare system in the Sarajevo Canton, it was emphasized. Costs have increased despite the fact that no drastic increase in the number of insured persons and prescription users was recorded.

All these are indicators that a revision is necessary, and as announced, it will also cover the practice of prescribing and dispensing medicines.

Estimates are that by recording and preventing omissions and irregularities, multi-million savings could be achieved, which would be directed to other priorities in healthcare and ensuring better quality healthcare.

- This is the first time that a meeting has been organized in this composition, but also that directors of public health institutions have the opportunity to participate in creating the list of medicines. That is the only correct way to reach the best solution - said the director of the Institute for Emergency Medical Assistance of the Sarajevo Canton Sena Softić-Taljanović.

The meeting participants gave several concrete proposals and suggestions on the offered proposal for the list, and it was concluded that everyone should prepare and submit them to the Ministry of Health of the Sarajevo Canton within the next seven days.