Minister Katica: We will secure funds for all members of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton to undergo systematic medical examinations this year

(Patria) - Minister of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton Admir Katica announced that he will secure the necessary funds in the budget so that all employees of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton – Police Administration can undergo systematic medical examinations by the end of this year. In addition, Minister Katica announced that he will demand consistent application of the Rulebook on criteria and methods for determining the health fitness of police officers and the method of determining the health fitness of police officers of the Police Administration of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton. In this way, the general health fitness of police officers for the unimpeded performance of tasks and duties of any job position will be continuously monitored.

The aforementioned Rulebook stipulates that periodic health examinations of police officers of the Police Administration are carried out every four years, which has not been the practice so far. However, Minister Katica stated that he will insist that the Police Administration strictly apply the provisions of the rulebook in the future, and if necessary, conduct systematic examinations more frequently, for which funds will be regularly provided in the budget.

"We have already taken steps to secure funds for systematic examinations, sooner rather than later. Through redistribution, we will secure about 150,000 KM in the budget and immediately request that the procurement procedure for the systematic examination service be initiated. Funds have never been and will not be a problem for these purposes. I will demand that all police officers and employees of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton undergo systematic examinations this year," announced Minister Katica.

He added that police officers of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton – Police Administration who were employed in the previous period were obliged to submit medical certificates, and as many as 195 police officers were employed last year alone. The recruitment of another 250 police officers and 30 junior inspectors is underway, and it can be said that all of them have passed or will pass the general health fitness check for the unimpeded performance of tasks and duties.

"We are intensively working on renewing the cadre within the police ranks, and new police officers truly go through a very professional and transparent recruitment system that includes medical examinations. However, we will now intensify activities on checking the health fitness of previously employed personnel in order to prevent potential problems and ensure even better police work," stated Minister Katica.

It is important to emphasize that the MUP of Sarajevo Canton – Police Administration currently employs two professional psychologist advisors whose job, among other things, is to refer police officers for periodic and extraordinary medical examinations for the needs of the Police Administration, and to act in accordance with the provisions of special regulations when force and firearms are used by a police officer, as in the case of an attack on a police officer. These professional psychologist advisors, accordingly, cooperate with authorized health institutions and organizational units of the Police Administration.

Through planned improvements and infrastructure projects, the issue of health services and medical examinations for all police officers will also be addressed. As announced by Minister Katica, the police will also receive new, renovated premises for the Institute for Health Protection of Employees of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton. "In the new administrative headquarters of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton, which we will build in Kolodvorska Street, we plan to house the institute for the health protection of employees of the MUP of KS. This way, we will ensure that our police, as well as members of all other police agencies residing in Sarajevo Canton, have adequate health protection, as well as regular medical examinations in one place," added Minister Katica.