48-hour deadline to change patient pathway, Radončić intervened for SIPA officer

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed on Saturday evening that he intervened to place a police officer of the State Investigation and Protection Agency at the Podhrastovi clinic after his health condition deteriorated due to coronavirus infection.

Radončić said that the patient's pathway must be determined in the fastest possible way, either to go to the isolation ward or to the coronavirus hospital. He stated that the patient cannot be treated over the phone.

He emphasized that a 48-hour deadline has been set for the implementation of a different approach to providing healthcare to those infected with coronavirus.

“Urgently, within 48 hours, create a roadmap of the patient's movement. We must act quickly while the pandemic is in a linear phase to resolve who does what, who receives patients, who is the coronavirus hospital. 
I am interested in ensuring that people placed in isolation at Podhrastovi receive maximum care, that they are treated well. Here, the only option is how to get upstairs as quickly as possible,” Radončić said for Face TV.

At the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), the first case was confirmed on April 14 involving an employee residing in the Sarajevo Canton, and the second case was confirmed on April 17, also with residence in the Sarajevo Canton. Another officer living in the Republika Srpska is also infected and has been placed in the hospital in Pale. 

The epidemiological service of the Institute for Public Health of the Sarajevo Canton issued, as of yesterday, 14 decisions on self-isolation for both SIPA employees and close contacts, i.e., family members.    

Starting Monday, the General Hospital "Prim.dr. Abdulah Nakaš" should take over emergency cases seven days a week, as well as patients with coronavirus, except in cases where, due to the severity of their health condition, they should be placed in the isolation ward at Podhrastovi.