Compulsory Treatment: 40 People in FBiH Awaiting Mandatory Psychiatric Treatment

The Federal Government, at today's session in Sarajevo, adopted the information on the activities of the Interdepartmental Working Group for proposing solutions for the accommodation of persons who have committed criminal offenses while in a state of insanity, and for whom the measure of compulsory placement in a healthcare institution has been imposed, writes Patria.

The Working Group has found a temporary solution for the accommodation of seven forensic patients from the Tuzla Correctional Facility and Penitentiary (KPZ Tuzla) at the Psychiatric Hospital of Sarajevo Canton, until the Forensic Psychiatry Institute in Sokolac becomes operational.

The General Secretariat of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is tasked, on behalf of the Government, to request the Government of Tuzla Canton to, in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Justice, transfer these seven patients from KPZ Tuzla to the Psychiatric Hospital of Sarajevo Canton.

Furthermore, financial resources should be secured for the accommodation of patients in a healthcare institution, in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Persons with Mental Disorders, according to which the costs of implementing the security measure of compulsory psychiatric treatment are borne by the budget of the canton of residence of the accommodated person, and if the place of residence is unknown, by the place of last residence.

In the event that this is not done, accommodation capacities should be found in an appropriate healthcare institution in the Tuzla Canton area.

The Interdepartmental Working Group is tasked with continuing to seek a permanent solution for accommodation capacities for the implementation of the security measure of compulsory psychiatric treatment for persons with mental disorders residing in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to report to the FBiH Government in a timely manner.

According to data from municipal courts, it has been determined that 40 people in the Federation are awaiting the execution of the compulsory psychiatric treatment measure, and 36 people are awaiting the execution of addiction treatment measures. Additionally, 16 patients are housed in the KPZ Zenica facility in the Department for Compulsory Psychiatric Treatment and Custody – Forensics.