Will the "trojka" ignore the Union's request due to elections: They demand a thematic session of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly on healthcare and the position of workers

(Patria) - The Union of Healthcare Workers of Sarajevo Canton sent a letter on September 12 to the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton, its leadership, and representatives, demanding a thematic session on the state of healthcare and the position of workers in institutions founded by Sarajevo Canton, and requesting that representatives of the Union be allowed to address the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton.

The justification for the initiative states that the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton has an obligation to take measures and actions within its jurisdiction to improve the situation, enhance the quality of services, and improve the economic and social position of service providers, thereby preventing the departure of skilled personnel.

It is known that public healthcare institutions lack technical means for work, equipment that has not been procured for years, medicines are lacking, and most importantly, skilled personnel are lacking.

The Union states that the issue of public healthcare transcends politics and that both the ruling and opposition parties should have the same interest, which is a stable public healthcare system in the Sarajevo Canton area.

On Friday, the Minister of Health of Sarajevo Canton, Enis Hasanović (SDP), visited the healthcare workers of Sarajevo Canton in front of the Government of Sarajevo Canton, where they had set up a tent until their demands were met. The director of the General Hospital “Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakaš”, Ismet Gavrankapetanović, the director of the JU Health Center Sarajevo Canton, Milan Mioković, and some representatives, such as Muamer Bandić from SBiH, who offered all forms of assistance to the workers, and representative Jasmin Šaljić, also expressed their support.

Minister Hasanović told reporters in front of the workers that there is money in the Sarajevo Canton Health Insurance Fund, from which salaries in the healthcare sector are paid, to increase the hourly wage, and that the workers have his full support.

We remind you that the Union of Healthcare Workers of Sarajevo Canton had several demands, the main one being an increase in the hourly wage from 3.07 to 3.70 KM. The Government of Sarajevo Canton offered 3.25 KM, and after the Union rejected it and continued with protests, the Government issued another statement emphasizing that the collective agreement is valid until April 2025.

On Friday, Patria sent a question to the Sarajevo Canton Health Insurance Fund asking if they have the funds from which higher hourly wages for healthcare workers could be paid and who makes that decision. We also asked if the Fund has a legal Board of Directors, how many members are currently on the board, and how decisions are made. However, we did not receive an answer, and if we do, we will publish the position of the Sarajevo Canton Health Insurance Fund.

Otherwise, the last session of the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton was on July 9, as a continuation of a previous session. However, the problems that have become topical and coincided with the election campaign cannot wait until October 6 or the summing up of the results. Especially since it concerns the local level of government, while the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton has an obligation to convene and solve problems, and if necessary, to order the Government of Sarajevo Canton what to do to improve the position of healthcare workers in Sarajevo Canton.