Konaković: Someone is spending money from healthcare in the interest of the pharmaceutical industry

SARAJevo, (Patria) – During the discussion on the financial plan of the KS Health Insurance Fund in the KS Assembly, it was requested that amendments to certain multi-million mark items be prepared and directed towards the fight against coronavirus.

Elmedin Konaković from the People and Justice party said he would vote for the proposed financial plan of the Fund because it is a necessity. Bilsena Šahman (SBB), who is employed in the pharmaceutical sector, spoke earlier, and her plan to potentially gain benefit from this situation was quickly thwarted.

“A very ugly thing is happening. The increase in drug consumption by another eight million KM and the increase in prescription drug dispensing from 1.65 to 1.90 KM are two things where someone, I claim responsibly, is using the current situation and spending healthcare money inappropriately in the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. Doing this today is a crime,” said Konaković.

He reminded that the previous Government, when he was in charge, stabilized drug consumption and set the price at 1.65 KM per prescription.

“Sarajevo has been fulfilling the A list of drugs completely for years. No one can compare with Sarajevo's B list, and we have been the most protected in that segment for years, and drug consumption from 2014 to today has increased by 30 million KM annually. That is 150 to 180 million KM in this period. Do you know what healthcare workers could have received for that money? No canton has this price of 1.65 KM in Sarajevo, do you know how much the fees for prescriptions are in other cantons, do you know that the fee for a prescription in Goražde is one mark. Or a maximum of 1.3. The story about pharmacies dispensing prescription drugs is not about them but about their bosses who make a profit and those drug sellers who pack some generic drug in their own box and sell it at five times the price. The Minister of Finance is the only one authorized to cross out what he does not like,” said Konaković.

MP Konaković said he was surprised that the Fund does not know how much drug consumption has increased, despite claiming to have a good IT system.

Aljoša Čampara (SDA) asked if there was a possibility to redirect the planned eight million KM for increased drug consumption for the needs of the fight against coronavirus in the next 15-20 days.

Samir Suljević from SDP BiH said that there are no protective masks or gloves in pharmacies.

“Urgently allocate funds for the procurement of gloves, masks, and disinfectants. We need help to visit citizens, there are many people over 65. People cannot go and help their fellow citizens without protection,” said Suljević.

Other MPs also requested that protective masks and gloves be provided so that citizens can purchase and protect themselves.

Conclusions were adopted that the KS Health Insurance Fund submit a rebalance of the financial plan within 15 days and that the Fund immediately redirect funds from the current reserve for the procurement of necessary medical and sanitary equipment and ventilators, all with the aim of protecting and saving citizens from coronavirus. MPs also adopted the Financial Plan of the Health Insurance Fund with 19 votes in favor.

KS Minister of Health Rusmir Mesihović said that the Crisis Staff of the KS Ministry of Health consists of 15 competent people.

“The financial plan was submitted 12 days before the legal deadline, but I believe that in the fight with what has befallen us, perhaps that was not respected. The KS Government made a decision to put 8 million KM into the current reserve for the procurement of materials in the fight against coronavirus. The Government allocated one million KM from the Budget for this purpose. I enacted that famous law on the protection of domestic production and fully support it. The KS Assembly should authorize the Fund to immediately start procuring materials, and we can only do that from China. We are already in negotiations, and the equipment could arrive by Friday. Let's focus our strength and adopt conclusions. The financial plan of the KS Health Insurance Fund was made in the then-current situation, but it changes from day to day. I appeal to you to move in a common direction,” said Mesihović.