NSRS: Šeranić gave the opening remarks, Trivić clear - you are endangering citizens' health!

(Patria) - The National Assembly of Republika Srpska has begun its session today, and a special session is to discuss the situation regarding oxygen supplies to public health institutions in RS, as well as, on an urgent basis, the Bill on Medicines and Medical Devices.

With the proposed law, the RS authorities are attempting to divest the BiH Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of its authority, and its responsibilities would be transferred to the new RS Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices.
58 deputies are present. DNS and SPS will not participate in today's session of the NSRS, representatives of the parliamentary groups of these two parties stated at a press conference in the assembly hall.

"On the agenda is the law on the Agency, which will enter into force 6 months after its publication in the Official Gazette, and it may also be after 6 months, after a year. Why is the law being passed on an urgent basis when the Law will not be applied immediately?" Ivić asked.

Everything, he believes, is a derogation of the NSRS and a deception of the citizens of RS, and an increase in political rating.

Otherwise, 44 out of 58 present deputies voted for the NSRS agenda. As many as 25 deputies are absent.

According to this, the majority for the agenda of the Special NSRS on the RS Law on Medicines is narrow. What will be adopted?

Regarding the situation with oxygen supplies to public health institutions in RS, the relevant minister, Alen Šeranić, addressed the deputies.

"According to the Constitution of RS, it is an indivisible entity and all competencies belong to it, except for those provided for by the BiH Constitution. The RS Law on Medicines was passed in 2001, and the RS Agency for Medicines was also established then. In July 2008, a law was adopted at the BiH level and a unified system was established. Through it, the BiH Agency for Medicines was established and began its work on May 1, 2009," Šeranić said.

He also explained the situation regarding the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how much oxygen was needed in such circumstances for oxygen therapy.

"Health institutions use oxygen cylinders of specific volumes. Institutions do not have their own cylinders, but suppliers provide them. The current suppliers have signed contracts, and it has been determined that they do not have a license from the Agency. For daily needs, 650 cylinders of various volumes are required. The communication that took place in 2014 was never completed, and it concerns the essential list of hospital medicines. This would resolve the issue, as essential medicines must be available to citizens non-stop," Šeranić said.

He stated that a bigger problem arose in September when the Republican Inspectorate banned the circulation and production of medical oxygen by TGT.

"It was determined that the oxygen meets the conditions to be a medicine with its quality. We were blocked in procurement. We requested meetings to unblock oxygen procurement, but there was no consensus within BiH," Šeranić said.

He stated that the question is whether the Agency is part of the solution or the problem. 

"I don't know why there was no desire for an agreement. That is why the proposal is before you to establish the RS Agency for Medicines," Šeranić said, explaining that Messer does not have the capacity to deliver the required oxygen.

Jelena Trivić, a PDP deputy, said that this information is shameful.

"You pretend to confuse terms, saying the use of medical oxygen, not technical. We are participating in this session just to say what we have and for the public to hear. For you, as a doctor, to send such information - I have no words. It is essentially inaccurate and shameful, and you, as a doctor, have taken that responsibility," said Trivić, adding that the Speaker of the Assembly will also bear responsibility for scheduling such a session.

"The two terms, technical and medical oxygen, are not the same. The fact that you claim a certain purity, there is nothing for you to determine, technical oxygen is not a medicine. That is the essence of the problem. You say that with this law you will ensure the procurement of adequate oxygen. Doctor, doctor, where in your medical studies have you heard of the term adequate oxygen?" Trivić asked, stating that this is a red line.

"How can it be a national issue if you endanger citizens. Sooner or later it will be determined what and from when, I greet the prosecutors who are doing their job," said Trivić.