Zenica Health Center Speaks Out for the First Time: Attempt to Destabilize the Institution is a Cowardly Act

(Patria) - For the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Public Institution Health Center Zenica addressed the public during the coronavirus pandemic, following increasingly frequent attacks on the primary healthcare institution which, as they say, is the first to deal with individuals positive for coronavirus.

In an open letter to the public, signed by acting director prim. dr. Ferid Alić, they stated that numerous falsehoods on certain portals are creating panic among citizens and that the public must be informed of the facts that they are working in complex conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but that they are functioning without difficulties.

"The example of the organization and functioning of our institution in pandemic conditions has been adopted by numerous health centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is why we are proud of each of our employees. We will persevere on this path, regardless of the sabotage by irresponsible individuals who are unaware of the consequences they can produce by spreading falsehoods and panic," the letter states.

They further state that the key facts best reflect the attitude of Mayor Kasumović towards the primary level healthcare institution in Zenica-Doboj Canton, especially in pandemic conditions:

"During the pandemic, the mayor did not officially visit the Public Institution 'Health Center' Zenica even once to see the working conditions of healthcare workers firsthand. During the pandemic, the Zenica City Administration, led by the mayor, allocated zero (0) convertible marks to help Zenica's healthcare workers. The Public Institution 'Health Center' Zenica informs the public that the Mayor of the City of Zenica, without any legal basis, is preventing the Public Institution 'Health Center' Zenica from hiring necessary healthcare workers.

Namely, the Mayor of the City of Zenica refused to publish the Public Institution 'Health Center' Zenica's announcement on his website, even though he is obliged to do so. In this way, the mayor is interfering with the unimpeded functioning and provision of healthcare services, which could ultimately cause enormous consequences," the Public Institution Health Center Zenica announced.

They also refuted media reports that the Zenica Health Center is blocking the appointment of the Health Center's Management Board, adding that this responsibility lies with the Zenica City Administration, and that a change in the Health Center's name is planned to extend the mandate of dr. spec. Selvedina Sarajlić-Spahić, with the explanation that the expansion of the Health Center's activities was planned with a 'Diagnostic and Treatment Ward for Acute Patients' in case of excessive illness of a larger number of patients, regardless of whether it was a pandemic, epidemic, or other etiology, in order to relieve the Cantonal Hospital Zenica and provide assistance at the primary level of care. They also refuted claims about unsuitable triage tents and that protective suits are washed and dried on a fence, explaining that their triage system has been adopted by many health centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a good practice, and that reusable suits are disinfected and dried according to instructions.

Finally, they stated that the Health Center has not received an official letter from the Trade Union of Healthcare Workers or a group of healthcare workers regarding dissatisfaction with conditions or similar ongoing activities.

"Dissatisfied workers, or rather, dissatisfied individuals and their individual statements are a pale and inhumane cover for their work. The Health Center has a sufficient amount of protective equipment and swabs for collecting samples for PCR testing and acts exclusively according to the guidelines, recommendations, and orders of official crisis headquarters. Every employee of the Health Center is a hero, and every attempt to destabilize this institution is a cowardly act by those for whom an appointment is more important than the health of the population," the Open Letter to the Public from the Zenica Health Center concludes.