CONFIRMED FOR NAP: Dismissal of Dr. Gavrankapetanović Jeopardises Research into Bone Healing Drug

The dismissal of Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović from the head of Sarajevo orthopaedics jeopardises one of the largest European projects that should result in a drug that helps patients with bone healing problems and those who need to replace a missing part of the bone, warned Prof. Dr. Slobodan Vukičević, coordinator of this project, for the Patria agency.

The drug discovered in Croatia that has attracted the attention of the world public is called Osteogrow, and the results of clinical trials conducted so far indicate that it could become the first indispensable drug for patients with bone healing problems.

Clinical trials of the drug are underway in Zagreb, Sarajevo and Vienna.

Dr. Vukičević earlier told Jutarnji list that an exceptionally large role in the entire project is played by Hermann Oppermann, a renowned scientist in the field of regenerative medicine, then Mihaela Perić from the Faculty of Medicine in Zagreb, who conducted all toxicological tests; Ruth Paul, regulatory consultant for England and America, Dragan Đurđević and Tomislav Vlahović, doctors at the Clinic for Traumatology of the Sisters of Charity University Hospital Centre; Ismet Gavrankapetanović and Mehmed Jamakosmanović, doctors at the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Reingard Windhager and Catharina Chiari from the General University Hospital in Vienna, Snježana Martinović from Smart Medico.

The entire project is now jeopardised by the dismissal of Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović from the position of head of the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, which has caused fear and disappointment among orthopaedists throughout Europe.

The CCUS has not provided an explanation for why Dr. Gavrankapetanović is being dismissed. The decision was made abruptly by the CCUS manager Dr. Sebija Izetbegović. Without explanation. For this reason, the dismissal is already being called in public a political decision implemented by the CCUS management headed by Dr. Izetbegović, the wife of the president of the ruling SDA and member of the BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegović.

"Ismet Gavrankapetanović is the best Bosnian-Herzegovinian orthopaedist who has a huge international reputation, and he cannot be dismissed. Period. There can be no reason for his dismissal, unless he has violated the profession. He has not violated the profession. We all know he is top-notch. We all know he cares for people", warns Dr. Vukičević for the Patria agency, adding that the Osteogrow project is under close scrutiny by the European Commission, and that he, as project coordinator, now has a big problem due to the dismissal of Dr. Gavrankapetanović.

Dr. Slobodan Vukičević earlier told the Patria agency that the dismissal of Dr. Gavrankapetanović from the head of this Sarajevo clinic is an international scandal, because it concerns the best European orthopaedist, whom the management dismissed according to a political matrix, and not because he violated professional rules.

"I heard that these pressures have been going on for some time," said Dr. Vukičević. 

He also added that in the last few days he has received a large number of calls from renowned orthopaedists around the world, who are concerned about the influence of politics on the profession in Bosnia and Herzegovina.