House of Representatives of FBiH: We gave the wolf the sheep to guard, covering healthcare robbery with citizens' money

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Bill on Financial Consolidation and Restructuring of Public Healthcare Institutions in the Federation of BiH entered parliamentary procedure through political bargaining, and it rewards those who were the most undisciplined. This is an attempt to extinguish a small part of the fire, and we have no guarantee that the fire will be extinguished. The law does not define a goal for when the saga of the enormous financial dubiety of public healthcare institutions will end, said Damir Mašić, head of the SDP BiH Club, during the discussion.

He adds that bad managers who have brought the institutions they lead into a difficult situation are being rewarded. He pointed out that clear control over the spending of funds allocated to healthcare institutions needs to be introduced.

Suad Kaknjo replied to Mašić, stating that KB Zenica has been operating positively for the third year. Mašić replied that he was not talking about those with positive practices, but about the opposite.

Goran Akšamija said that the NIP Club supports all measures for the financial consolidation of healthcare institutions, but that it must be implemented in a transparent and equal manner.

"We wonder how it is that the Mostar Clinical Center receives almost a third of all planned funds, while the General Hospital is once again subjected to financial attack," asked Akšamija.

Sanela Prašović Gadžo, on behalf of the SBB Club, said that the small amount of funds allocated to the General Hospital is unacceptable, given its importance, as shown by the number of surgical procedures, admitted patients, and during the COVID pandemic.

Zlatko Ercegović, an independent representative, said he supports the adoption of this law.

"Although we believe that healthcare is once again being treated in a stepmotherly fashion. We emerged from the war with the epithet 'heroes in white,' which over time became a mocking term for all of us. We are late in adopting such a law; the water in the healthcare sector has long been over our heads," emphasized Ercegović.

He adds that debts are generated due to the disproportionate relationship between the prices of services and the costs of healthcare institutions. Ercegović asked what data was used as a benchmark for allocating funds when it is evident that it was not done based on the number of insured persons covered, the number of services, or the employed staff...

Alma Kratina, president of the DF Club, says that responsibility is the least common denominator of all discussions so far.

"I think no one here should defend those who conscientiously do their job. We, as parliamentarians, have been put in an unenviable position," added Kratina.

Amela Kuskunović asked who covers the losses created by the management of healthcare institutions with citizens' money, without anyone being held accountable.

Sabina Ćudić said that a marketplace is being played out today and that funds are being allocated arbitrarily, amounting to hundreds of millions of KM.

Irfan Čengić says he doubts he will support such a law, although he supported the urgent procedure for its consideration.

"Healthcare services are at a low level, and the FBiH Government is partly to blame, as it does not pay hundreds of millions in arrears into the Federal Solidarity Fund. The management of institutions is also to blame, and cantonal authorities are more to blame than them. Often, good doctors and good people are at the head of these institutions, but they are bad managers. We have proposed five amendments to establish criteria. The table of criteria we received shows that the distribution was done haphazardly," stated Čengić.

He adds that SDP wants to influence the distribution through amendments to be based on the number of services, patients, tax debt, communal debt, and debt to suppliers.

"Our key amendment is that people who have incurred tax debts can no longer apply for future positions," emphasized Čengić.

He adds that two hospitals in HNK account for 60 percent of the debt of general hospitals in FBiH. "The 'Abdulah Nakaš' General Hospital is being given a pittance of two million KM, thus punishing them for not incurring debts, and therefore we cannot support this law," Čengić announced.

Jasmin Zubić followed up on Čengić's presentation, stating that this law indicates how difficult the situation is in the FBiH healthcare system.

Mara Đukić says that everyone understands the situation and is aware of the need for consolidation of healthcare institutions. "In all of this, for the consolidation of healthcare institutions, we all agree that we need to know the structure of the debts in order to take an adequate stance. We must know who is responsible for the debts. If directors, supervisory boards, and management boards are responsible, then they must be replaced and can no longer lead these institutions. We see that the FBiH Government is responsible for university clinical centers, and we believe they cannot oversee the funds to be allocated," added Đukić.

Elvir Karajbić points out that the patient is not important in the healthcare system. "What will the patient get from today's law? Nothing. Our reality is that when a patient comes to a healthcare institution, someone first asks them if they brought a syringe, infusion, bandage. The question arises whether the patient should treat the healthcare institution or the healthcare institution should treat the patient. That is our reality, just as it is a reality that patients with malignant diseases stop going for radiation therapy for reasons that are not their fault. Our reality is that one waits seven or eight months for an MRI. Today, we did not even receive a report on how much healthcare institutions owe at the end of last year, but for 2020. Are we giving money to institution managers who have incurred losses? And what will happen in a year or two, the situation will be the same. Are we giving the wolf the sheep to guard?" Karajbić stated.

He adds that corruption is greatest in healthcare and that the proposed law does not solve it.