Open Letter: It Is Unfair to Sit at Home and Criticise Healthcare Workers

(Patria) - The Chamber of Health Technicians of All Profiles of Sarajevo Canton has sent an open letter to the public stating that they are exposed to great pressures and criticisms

"Recently we have witnessed constant criticism of the work of healthcare workers in Sarajevo Canton, who are under great pressure due to the new situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The whole world is facing unprecedented problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and many stronger and larger countries than Bosnia and Herzegovina are lacking medical staff and equipment.

Healthcare workers are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus, and are the people who are directly exposed to infection every day. We must not allow those who are constantly with patients to be the most criticised.

Whether this is happening due to the unknown nature of the virus or fear of it, we do not know, but we hereby ask you to understand that healthcare workers of all profiles selflessly help patients in dire need, leaving their homes not knowing if they will return and infect themselves and their loved ones.

They are the ones who spend 24 hours beside patients in need of care, in direct contact with patients, fulfilling their work tasks without question.

The scope of work that healthcare workers of all profiles perform daily is extremely broad and unknown to most citizens, but despite great efforts and sacrifices, healthcare workers have not let citizens down nor left anyone without help that falls within their domain.

The coronavirus is an unknown for us healthcare workers of all profiles, as it is for you citizens. With the big difference that we consciously and directly expose ourselves daily to possible infection, not running away or hiding, but honourably and proudly doing our job, which is caring for all sick citizens in need.

It is unfair to listen daily to various criticisms from people who are not in direct contact with the sick, and whose entire daily "work" boils down to sitting protected in their homes and writing criticisms of healthcare institutions and their employees. Most of these criticisms are imbued with efforts to collect cheap political points, which in this situation is truly unacceptable and worthy of condemnation.

We remain open to all constructive criticism, to possible advice on how to improve our work. We remain open to all who want to help, because in this situation any help is welcome.

We are also aware of certain shortcomings that management and decision-makers need to correct, and to be fair, they are correcting them.

We hereby ask you to support us and be our "wind at our backs" so that we can overcome the misfortune that has befallen us as soon as possible.

We ask citizens to support us, just as we support you, and governments at all levels to finally recognise healthcare workers of all profiles as equal members of the healthcare system.

Finally, we ask you to respect the measures prescribed by the crisis staffs, so that we can overcome this misfortune as soon as possible", the letter states.