SDP Sarajevo Cantonal Board: Egoism, censorship and politicking at KCUS unacceptable during crisis

The Cantonal Board of the Social Democratic Party of BiH Sarajevo reiterates that now is not the time for politicking, that we should all contribute to stopping the pandemic, protecting citizens' lives and introducing measures to preserve jobs and save the economy.

"Unfortunately, it is evident that the cantonal government of SDA, DF, SBB and BOSS has taken this approach as an opportunity to take care of those who brought them to power. The Cantonal Government, after the infamous decision to collect donations to fight the pandemic, has engaged in replacing unsuitable and appointing suitable staff. That is why we want to speak publicly about what numerous citizens and doctors are drawing our attention to, and what journalists have finally spoken about.

It is completely clear that we cannot expect the prime ministers, neither federal nor cantonal, or the ministers of health, neither federal nor cantonal, to even think, let alone oppose or possibly call to account the director of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo.

The protest of the Steering Board of BH Journalists regarding the censorship and selectivity introduced by Sebija Izetbegović shows that the main characteristic of SDA and the ruling family, even today, is politicking and egoism instead of concern for the public interest. The information that Sebija Izetbegović chooses which select media outlets will receive information and to which inquiries, at a time when it is crucially important for the public to have accurate and complete information about the current situation, sounds unbelievable.

The expenditure of public money on nonsensical messages on billboards across Sarajevo about the pandemic and the so-called "bravery" of Sebija Izetbegović is particularly unnecessary and superfluous. While healthcare workers are crying out for equipment, tests, and other necessities, such behavior is a picture of irrational egoism that is taking the form of a serious institutional problem. Finally, the KS Government, with its actions and intentions to use the moment to carry out political staff changes under the guise of fighting the pandemic, completely fits into the concept of the Izetbegović family's rule," the statement said.

The SDP BiH Sarajevo Cantonal Board believes that the first public official who deserves to be dismissed due to an inappropriate reaction to the pandemic must be the director of KCUS, Sebija Izetbegović. Along with all other failures, Director Izetbegović bears exclusive responsibility for the blockade of the Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

"Instead of introducing shift work and separating staff into three shifts for several days, which is the practice in most countries, by mixing staff in triage tents and imposing joint work, she endangered the entire healthcare system. The Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology is the best example, and a large number of doctors express fear that we can expect similar scenarios in the future due to the behavior of Director Izetbegović, who does not respect expertise and imposes irrational measures.

Fully aware that no reaction should be expected from the authorities against the director and her associates responsible for the first mass spread of coronavirus in a clinical center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are sure that the time will come when the rule of law will function here as well," the SDP stated.