Five veteran clinics operational in Sarajevo Canton starting today

(Patria) - Veterans from five municipalities in Sarajevo Canton will have the opportunity to receive treatment in clinics designated for this population group at health centers, starting today.

These clinics will be operational in the central facilities of the health centers in Stari Grad, Centar, Novo Sarajevo, Novi Grad, and Ilidža.

This is an innovative approach to improving the healthcare of the veteran population, through the establishment of clinics and a more sensitive approach to treating veterans who have served the homeland.

They will be provided with certain benefits, which they have earned through their immeasurable contribution during the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Minister for Veteran Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, Omer Osmanović, reminded yesterday of the permanent obligation to restore the dignity of the country's defenders.

Through such projects, as he stated, the authorities in Sarajevo Canton are proving that they care about solving the pressing problems of members of these categories.

He thanked everyone who supported the realization of this initiative – the previous and current Minister of Health of Sarajevo Canton, the management of the Sarajevo Canton Health Center, the Health Insurance Fund of Sarajevo Canton, led by director Muamer Kosovac, for recognizing the importance of this project, showing sensitivity towards this category, and actively participating in its implementation.

- In this way, we are restoring the dignity and respect of the veteran population. We recognized veteran clinics as something they need in the primary healthcare system. This is just one segment, as we are establishing a veteran department in the General Hospital.

Intensive work is also underway on the "Day Hospital for PTSD" project, and the selection of a contractor will be concluded on December 12. Therefore, in addition to the Ministry providing funds for spa treatment and one-time aid for treatment, we are investing a lot of energy and resources into this segment of healthcare as well, in order to help our veterans as much as possible – stated Minister Osmanović.

The Minister of Health of Sarajevo Canton, Enis Hasanović, expressed satisfaction that the initiative has been realized, according to which the veteran population will have priority in receiving health services.

- They will be able to visit these clinics for any type of service, from administrative matters and referrals to examinations – added Hasanović.

He also explained that when members of the veteran population are not waiting for services in these clinics, the staff will also provide services to all other patients, in order to alleviate the congestion in family medicine clinics.

Another advantage of this project, as he pointed out, is the employment of young medical staff.

As explained by the director of the Public Institution Sarajevo Canton Health Center, Milan Mioković, this is how the initiative of the cantonal ministries for veteran affairs and health, i.e., the complete executive and legislative authorities in Sarajevo Canton, and the management of the Health Center, to have clinics primarily intended for veterans, has been put into practice.

- In these clinics, demobilized soldiers and disabled war veterans will have the right to treatment, provided they bring certificates from municipal services for veteran-disability protection, based on which they will be registered in teams, and will be provided with healthcare – stated Mioković.

As he added, initially, 10 doctors and 20 nurses have been assigned to work in the veteran clinics, and their number will be adjusted according to needs.

He believes that the number of medical staff will be sufficient for now, considering that members of the veteran population can transfer their medical records to the veteran clinics, and if they wish, they can continue treatment with their family doctors with whom they have been treated so far.

- The significance of the realization of this initiative is very great, because members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been given greater importance and will be able to access health services more easily – emphasizes Mioković.

As announced yesterday, veteran clinics should soon be opened in Vogošća, Hadžići, and Ilijaš, and six more doctors and 12 nurses will be employed there.