Minister Helez and Director of KCUS: Engagement of BiH Armed Forces Helicopters in Organ Transplant Programme

(Patria) - Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Defence, Zukan Helez, held a working meeting with the General Director of the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo (KCUS), Prim. Doc. Dr. Alen Pilav.

The meeting discussed the request from KCUS for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be involved in the organ transplant programme through helicopter transport of organs and the transfer of supervising professors on the Ljubljana – Sarajevo route.

Representatives of KCUS were informed about the flight approval procedures and the possibilities for engaging the BiH Armed Forces, while the Ministry of Defence provided guidelines regarding obtaining approval for the use of the helipad at the Koševo hospital location, preparation of a Memorandum of Cooperation, and acceleration of flight approval procedures.

Minister Helez proposed that cooperation be extended to other healthcare centres in BiH, and the Ministry of Defence of BiH has already prepared a final proposal for a Decision for the Presidency of BiH on the engagement of the BiH Armed Forces in providing assistance to public healthcare institutions in the organ transplant programme, with a validity period of one year.

This process is in its final phase, and the adoption of the Decision by the Presidency of BiH will create conditions for full support of the BiH Armed Forces to the organ transplant programme. At the end of the meeting, Minister Helez emphasised that the Ministry of Defence and the BiH Armed Forces remain committed to providing support, in cooperation with healthcare institutions, to programmes that save the lives of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.