Union wrote to the Medical Chamber of FBiH: KCUS doctors exposed to mobbing

The president of the Branch of the Union of Doctors of Medicine and Dentistry of Sarajevo Canton at UKCS, Dr. Hasan Tanović, wrote to the Medical Chamber of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, asking for its urgent involvement in resolving the issues between doctors at KCUS and the management of the largest healthcare institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports Patria agency.

"We believe that the way the former head of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology (Prof. Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, M.D.) was dismissed and the bypassing of the Clinic's professional collegium when making this and other important decisions is unacceptable and represents a serious violation against employees, the profession, and thus against people's health," the letter states. Dr. Tanović reminds that the Clinic's professional collegium drafted a complaint regarding the manner in which Dr. Gavrankapetanović was dismissed and informed the Management Board and management of KCUS about it. 15 out of 18 members of the Collegium signed this complaint. They sent the complaint expecting the Management to explain their actions and to respect legal regulations and procedures. However, in the following days, according to Dr. Tanović, instead of an explanation, doctors found themselves in a situation where some members of the management exerted pressure on the doctors who signed the aforementioned document. 

"After unprecedented mobbing and direct and clear threats that we ourselves witnessed, first three, then another four, and finally one more signature were withdrawn," the letter sent to the Medical Chamber of FBiH states. The letter also states that some of those who withdrew their signatures were promoted to higher positions, "which can be linked to their change of mind and withdrawal of signatures." Another part of the colleagues withdrew their signatures out of fear and mobbing.

"We believe that immoral offers and threats are unacceptable activities, especially towards doctors, who are seen by many as role models in society," states Dr. Tanović. He reminds that the Chamber's Statute defines the chamber's goals as, among other things, preserving and protecting the medical profession, meeting the professional and personal needs of doctors, ensuring conditions for doctors to act collectively towards state bodies, associations, and healthcare institutions..., protecting the health of citizens...

"The activities of the management and the Management Board of KCUS are clearly aimed at retaliation and mobbing of the signatories of the complaint, which creates enormous pressure on doctors and hinders the performance of regular work activities and endangers the health and lives of patients. The poor working atmosphere, the filing of criminal charges, the stressful situation, and the fear of repercussions and punishments, and even job loss, inevitably have a negative impact on the relationship with patients," the letter states. 

"Since we received an incoherent response full of justifications for inaction from the Cantonal Chamber instead of support and active participation in trying to resolve the situation, we are addressing you as the umbrella organization because we believe it is necessary for the medical chamber to protect its members. Therefore, we invite you to actively engage in this case and justify your existence so that we can dedicate all our time to the health of patients instead of losing it fighting with the Management," concludes Dr. Tanović in the letter sent to the Medical Chamber of FBiH.