Rustemović: BiH Council of Ministers does not care about citizens' health, is stifling the Agency for Medicines

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the most difficult moments since its establishment and functioning, the Council of Ministers is not working, not making decisions, and we are waiting for at least to be allowed to fill vacant positions with expert staff, key positions, such as heads of laboratories and analysts, said the president of the Trade Union of the Agency for Medicines of BiH, Ramo Rustemović.

- Furthermore, my dear people, we cannot even hire a cleaner for the laboratory glassware, and we do not have one on a permanent basis. If this trend continues, we should not wait long for the implementation of the RS Law on Medicines, the formation of the RS Agency for Medicines. You can imagine, and the authorities at all levels should be particularly concerned, under what conditions and uncertainty we are working, whether we care about our existence, whether there is any concrete help to improve this situation. I think there isn't, someone is waiting, what are they waiting for, the High Representative who promises conditionally, we had a visit from representatives, what happened? - he added.

It is regrettable, he points out, and further dissatisfies these employees that they generate income for themselves on the market, fill the budget, approximately 14 million KM, and yet they have to share the fate of these blockades in the Council of Ministers, meager salaries, and everything else that arises from the employment relationship.

- The Agency is not a mere bureaucratic institution; it is a highly sophisticated professional activity in the service of improving and protecting health, with the majority of healthcare workers and all other experts, well-trained for this type of work. The authorities like to say they are in the service of citizens, and we are in the service of patients, do something, at least for starters, exclude us from these blockades at the Council of Ministers level, free us from irresponsible policies, so we can breathe and function, before it's too late! - Rustemović states.