Rimac Speaks Out: I Will Fight Against This Government's Way of Working, I Asked for a Million for Cancer Prevention and Got Zero

(Patria) - Federal Minister of Health Nediljko Rimac (HDZ 1990) today, at a press conference called on the occasion of a heart transplant for a patient, spoke about numerous problems in healthcare, insufficient budget for patient needs, but also the pressures he faces.

Rimac also answered why he did not give consent for Ismet Gavrankapetanović to be the director of KCUS.

"There is a problem because it is not in accordance with the law and procedures. I would be happiest if it hadn't turned out this way, but I have to protect myself because I have received threats and three criminal charges if I give consent for it to proceed. I come from a peaceful environment, I have a year and a half left until retirement, and I truly want only to respect the law," Rimac stated.

He said that it is now up to the Government of the Federation of BiH and that he also doesn't know why they are not doing anything, but that he is protecting both himself and the law.

NiP leader Elmedin Konaković filed a report against him and stated that Rimac is part of a special interest group that does not want Gavrankapetanović at the head of the largest healthcare institution in BiH.

"I would like someone to tell me who I belong to, except when it comes to the profession and medicine, from which circles I come. As for any special interest or criminal lobbies, I responsibly claim that I do not belong to anyone," Rimac emphasized.

Then he spoke about long waiting lists for cancer patients and the Solidarity Fund.

"I live with these people and I know their suffering. When I arrived, I found a disorganized situation. As much as is collected in the Solidarity Fund, from which these patients are treated, from health insurance institutes, the Federal government should also pay in. However, the Government currently owes the Solidarity Fund one and a half billion KM. The Government and previous governments, no one can be excluded. Only last year did things start to move, but it is not enough. With the activities we have undertaken, to return part of the funds collected from VAT, we would not have such long waiting lists. The initiative has been submitted, but it is again at the state level. We are trying in every possible way, from VAT, excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, to transfer them to the Solidarity Fund. But these are terrible lobbies and we feel powerless," Rimac stated.

Rimac says that he is not impressed by being a minister if he cannot achieve anything.

"I told the Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić that we will ask for a portion of the assets confiscated from criminal activities to go to the Solidarity Fund. From gambling as well. That is my only goal, to fight in that way."

Rimac revealed that he was misunderstood when it comes to the distribution of funds in the budget.

"For the prevention of malignant diseases, I asked for a million KM, and I got zero. When it came to cystic fibrosis, it was decided that no vehicles would be purchased. I am not enthusiastic about the vehicles being purchased now either. I neither asked for nor do I intend to ask for a vehicle. Why others asked, I don't know. Perhaps because they are not doctors and do not know the suffering of patients on waiting lists. Since the budget is coming soon, I will insist and make it a condition that everything we asked for fills the Solidarity Fund," says Rimac.

When asked by journalists "why he is only now, since the establishment of the Federal Government, talking about the problems he is encountering in his work," Rimac replied, gesturing with his hand over his head: "Because it has come to this point."

"As a member of the Government, I have to run away from you, and I have no reason to run away from anyone on earth. I have to run away from you because, as a minister, I have not managed to do some things through the Government. I cannot be a member of the Government and speak against that government, but I will certainly fight against the way this government works. That is the only reason I have been avoiding journalists. In a normal world, people would resign. If I resigned, the Government would fall because you know how it is composed. I am powerless, I have no room there, but I will fight and I have set a goal for myself – either it will be like this or I will not be there. I don't have to be a minister, but I will not be a nobody who achieves nothing," Rimac said.