Resignations at Drvar Health Center, SNSD obstructs systematization

Acting director of the Drvar Health Center, Dragan Praštalo, submitted an irrevocable resignation today due to pressure from the Minister of Labour, Health, Social Protection and Refugees of Canton 10, Momčilo Bajić, to implement a systematization in that health institution which would result in the dismissal of at least 10 employees.

- For days I have been subjected to pressure from the line minister to implement a systematization in the Health Center that would lead to the dismissal of a significant number of employees, at least 10 of them. As a lawyer, I am in favour of adopting bylaws on job systematization, but certainly not for dismissing employees, especially during a pandemic - said Praštalo.

In his response, Minister Momčilo Bajić described these claims as untrue. He warned that problems cannot be solved with lies and fabrications, all due to the fact that SNSD is aware of how it is losing the levers by which it controlled Drvar. Inspection findings, as well as admissions from the Health Center that all employees were hired outside of legal procedures, point to this. Minister Bajić even accused Praštalo of being appointed to the acting director position outside of procedures and without meeting the formal requirements.

- Due to the severity of the inherited problems, Mr. Praštalo had not only my personal sympathy as a young man but also concrete financial support for the Health Center from the line ministry, which can be easily documented. Unfortunately, Mr. Praštalo, in the position of acting director, has not, so far, shown initiative and ability to solve problems. There are positions in the public sector for which party and political suitability is sufficient; the position of health center director in a difficult financial situation is not one of those positions, Bajić stated.

The problems in the Health Center are much older than Bajić's appointment as line minister. During the mandate of SNSD officials, debts accumulated due to a lack of desire to control costs, and municipal institutions were used to employ suitable personnel. The Minister of Health told the employees of the Health Center that they have no reason to worry, but that the laws must be respected.