The most seriously ill patients in FBiH are ready for radical action, including mass demonstrations and even hunger strikes!

By Delvin Kovač

At the beginning of July, there were 1,590 seriously ill patients on the waiting list for treatment in FBiH. These days, that number is 1,771, and by the end of the year, it is expected to reach even 2,000.

These are devastating figures from associations of the most seriously ill patients, who have been struggling for a long time with a shortage of medicines and funds in the Solidarity Fund intended for their treatment.

For the remaining period of this year, as much as 70 million KM is missing from the Solidarity Fund of the Health Insurance and Reinsurance Institute (ZZOR) of FBiH for the treatment of patients with the most severe malignant and other serious illnesses.

The problem can be most simply resolved by the FBiH Government transferring this money to the Fund through a budget rebalance, which the Federal Parliament would confirm at an extraordinary session. Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić gave such a promise to the representatives of the associations; it remains to be seen whether he will keep it.
Sefić: Overcome this situation as soon as possible (Photo: Facebook)

Sead Sefić, president of the Association of Prostate Cancer Patients of FBiH, told the Patria News Agency that the mentioned 70 million KM is needed for the treatment of the most seriously ill patients only until the end of this year.

And for the next year, 2024, significantly more funds will be needed because, according to statistical data, the number of patients with malignant diseases will increase by as much as 30 percent. This is not, says Sefić, specific to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but a global trend.

Representatives of the Association of Prostate Cancer Patients of FBiH, the Association of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases "Snaga u BiH", the Association of Breast Cancer Patients "Renesansa", and the Association of Melanoma Patients of FBiH informed Prime Minister Nikšić and his deputies about this issue.
From the meeting at the FBiH Government (Photo: FBiH Government)

- We requested that the Government propose a budget rebalance for the total missing amount of 70 million KM required for the treatment of the most serious diseases through the Solidarity Fund.

The Prime Minister and members of the Government expressed interest in overcoming this situation as soon as possible and tasked themselves with finding new sources of financing for the Solidarity Fund - explains Sefić.

Additionally, he adds, representatives of the associations insisted at the meeting at the FBiH Government that these problems be resolved systemically by amending the legal frameworks for the overall healthcare of the population in FBiH.

It was proposed that a working group of experts and other interested parties be formed on behalf of the FBiH Government, which would include medical professionals. All of them, together with representatives of patient associations - users of the Solidarity Fund services, would propose adequate solutions for financing their treatment next year.

The request submitted by the associations to the FBiH Parliament - Part 1 (Photo: Facebook)

At the same time, work will be done to find long-term solutions for timely provision of therapies for patients with the most serious diseases, as well as for prevention and early detection of serious illnesses.

- A long-term systemic solution lies in changes to the Law on Healthcare, the adoption of a law on a new method of financing the Solidarity Fund, changes in the treatment of VAT on medicines (VAT refund on medicines that would be returned to the Solidarity Fund, i.e., to the health fund, as well as new methods and principles in contracting the most expensive innovative therapies - a partnership approach).

By introducing new approaches to treating this issue, there would be a fairer approach to treating the most serious diseases and an end to the need for waiting lists - stated Sefić.

If the legislative and executive authorities do not respond positively to the requests they have submitted, the associations of patients announce more radical forms of struggle, such as mass demonstrations, and even hunger strikes.

- We will ask other citizens to join our demonstrations and for them to be as massive as possible. Because dying of hunger or lack of medicine is the same - adds Sefić.


The request submitted by the associations to the FBiH Parliament - Part 2 (Photo: Facebook)

Alma Stefanišin, president of the Association of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases "Snaga u BiH", says that at the meeting with the FBiH Government, they clearly told Prime Minister Nikšić and the relevant ministers - since they are taking out loans for everything and anything, they can do so for their sick fellow citizens, the residents of FBiH.

- We will pay that money back anyway - Stefanišin told Patria.

She adds that the main culprit for the situation in which seriously ill patients find themselves today is the FBiH Government, as it is the largest debtor to the Solidarity Fund.

- We are not interested in which mandate did this, but who is the debtor. We did not receive a promise specifically from them, but I believe they will manage to find a solution. Patients - people are dying - said Stefanišin, adding that she noticed a small dose of empathy in the interlocutors from the FBiH Government.
Stefanišin: Patients have nothing more to lose (Photo: Private album)

She emphasizes that the solution to the problem is for the authorities to allocate funds for the federal Solidarity Fund in a timely manner, as well as for pensioners.

Stefanišin points out that there are various modules for saving money: returning VAT to the Fund's treasury; allowing drug studies (which are covered by pharmaceutical companies); including the healthcare system in the VAT system; allowing special contracts between the Fund and pharmaceutical companies...

- We still stand by the fact that if the needs of the seriously ill are not met, we are ready to take to the streets, but also, unfortunately, to go on a hunger strike. Because patients have nothing more to lose, it is enough that they have lost their dignity and health.

Our basic human rights are threatened. We have had enough of treatment via SMS messages and humanitarian endeavors. We are demanding our rights that belong to us, we are not asking for anything that is not ours, but the right to life and health - concluded Stefanišin.