Hamed Hodžić: The injustice towards veterans and pensioners hurts me, which is why I entered politics

Hamed Hodžić, director of the Democratic Front, is the holder of the party's list in the Sarajevo municipality of Stari Grad. Although he is a military pensioner who achieved his status as commander of the 115th Stari Grad Brigade, he says that the injustice towards veterans and their difficult situation hurts him, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

He says that his political engagement will be based on helping vulnerable categories of the population, especially from the area of the Stari Grad municipality.

- The focus is on the existence of the veteran population, then pensioners and other social categories in order to improve their lives – says Hodžić.

He believes that the Democratic Front, although a young party, has the strength to fight corruption and ensure a better life for all citizens...

He emphasizes once again that if he is elected to the Municipal Council of Stari Grad, he will do everything to improve the status of veterans.

- That injustice towards veterans hurts, and that is my motive for entering politics – says Hodžić.

Hodžić believes that pensioners are one of the most important categories of the population in any local community.

- Pensioner incomes are low and usually arrive with delays, and this unjustly neglected population is in great financial difficulties. Furthermore, this is a population that particularly needs healthcare, and the essential drug list is getting shorter. A comprehensive analysis of needs needs to be made and funds allocated for this purpose in a way that covers as many pensioners as possible by subsidizing drug costs, explains Hodžić.

In Stari Grad, according to the last census, there are 36,976 inhabitants, of which almost 6,000 are over 65 years old.

- Our pensioners bear the greatest socio-economic burden. I want to help and alleviate the position of this population with concrete measures at the local level through fair distribution of funds. We must enable our pensioners a dignified old age and to live the life they want in those late years because they deserve it – says Hodžić.

Another important link that needs to be improved in the municipality of Stari Grad is the quality of healthcare and social protection.

- It is necessary to increase the grant for healthcare and social protection for persons in a state of social need, given the large number of users of public kitchens, and to support their work. Also, the long waiting times for appointments for examinations, specialist findings, or justified complaints about the work of medical staff are unacceptable – believes Hodžić.

Hodžić reminds that Article 8 of the Law on Healthcare ("Official Gazette of FBiH", no. 46/10) stipulates that the care for the health of the population is realized at the municipal level.

- The Law on Patients' Rights, Obligations and Responsibilities prescribes the obligation of municipalities to form health councils. Health councils consist of health and non-health workers, with the provision of gender equality, appropriate representation of representatives of all age groups, and patients. The role of health councils is significant, as within their competence they can propose measures to improve healthcare in the municipality, evaluate the work of health institutions, organize necessary courses and training, monitor the application of regulations, monitor violations of patients' rights, and inform the public – states Hodžić.