Hasanović claims KS Health Insurance Fund has money, Kosovac says funds will be used for patients, medication, but not salary increases

(Patria) - KS Minister of Health Enis Hasanović and Minister of Culture and Sports Kenan Magoda visited healthcare workers this morning who have been staying in the park in front of the KS Government for the second week. The Trade Union of Healthcare Workers of KS has stuck to one demand: to increase the hourly rate from 3.07 to 3.70 KM. Cantonal Prime Minister Nihad Uk stated that there is no money, and the Government offered 3.25 KM. After the Trade Union rejected this offer, Uk pointed out that the collective agreement is valid until April 2025.

Last week, Minister Hasanović told the workers that it is true that there is no money in the KS Budget, but that healthcare salaries are paid from the funds of the KS Health Insurance Fund, which does have money.

Given these claims by the minister, we asked the KS Health Insurance Fund and its director Muamer Kosovac if there is enough money for salary increases and who makes that decision. However, instead of a concrete answer to the questions asked, we received the following response from the KS Health Insurance Fund.

"The financial reports of the Sarajevo Canton Health Insurance Fund are public and transparent and are regularly submitted to the Ministry of Finance of Sarajevo Canton, the Ministry of Health of Sarajevo Canton, and the Government of Sarajevo Canton. The available funds in the Fund will be used to provide higher quality healthcare services to our valued insured persons. These funds will also finance medication for the severely ill, all with the aim of improving the quality of healthcare and expanding the rights of the insured. The Fund's goal is not only to provide healthcare but also to raise awareness about new treatment options and protocols that will be available to the citizens of Sarajevo Canton in the coming period. All of this is the result of the determination to use the available funds in the most efficient way," stated the KS Health Insurance Fund.

Although we asked the KS Health Insurance Fund to answer the questions precisely, we did not receive a second response. Therefore, from what they sent earlier, we can infer that the Fund will not allocate additional money for the salaries of healthcare workers.