Council of Ministers Refuses to Help Reconstruct Cantonal Hospital Dr. Irfan Ljubijankić in Bihać!

The BiH Council of Ministers will not support the reconstruction and renovation of the Cantonal Hospital Dr. Irfan Ljubijankić in Bihać, which was almost completely destroyed in a fire over two years ago, reports the Patria News Agency.

Namely, MP in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament Senad Šepić proposed that the BiH Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BiH find a solution and secure funds in the preparation of the Budget of BiH Institutions for 2016 to support the reconstruction and renovation of the Cantonal Hospital in Bihać in the amount of 1,500,000 KM.

However, judging by the response, financial assistance will be lacking. The response stated that "there is no legal jurisdiction of BiH institutions for financing, i.e., planning funds for the reconstruction of the hospital in Bihać."

- The Federation provides funds for investment and investment maintenance of healthcare institutions of importance to the Federation, as well as the informatization of healthcare activities, in accordance with the possibilities of the Federation Budget. The Canton provides funds for exercising founder's rights over healthcare institutions of which it is the founder, which includes investment and current maintenance of healthcare institutions – premises, medical and non-medical equipment and transport of assets, as well as the informatization of healthcare activities, in accordance with the plan and program of healthcare measures for the canton determined by the cantonal government – say the Council of Ministers.

They further noted that "respected MP Šepić stated in the explanation of the initiative that the reconstruction and renovation of the hospital in Bihać is on the list of priority needs for the citizens of USK."

- In accordance with the provisions of the cited law, the FBiH and the Una-Sana Canton should provide investment funds for the reconstruction of the said hospital – specified the Council of Ministers.

And while the Council of Ministers expertly handles the interpretation of laws, it is not explained how, for example, it accepted the Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and appointed a delegation to conduct negotiations for the conclusion of a loan agreement worth 19.5 million US dollars between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Saudi Fund for Development for the financing of the project "Modernization of Healthcare Institutions in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton".

The loan repayment period is 25 years, including a five-year grace period, with an annual interest rate of 2 percent, and the loan is allocated to the Federation of BiH.

Therefore, it is clear that a rational way to help the hospital in Bihać could have been found without violating legal obligations.

In that context, it should be noted that just a few days ago, Bakir Izetbegović, member of the BiH Presidency, Denis Zvizdić, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, and Fadil Novalić, Prime Minister of the FBiH, during their visit to Krajina (Bihać, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Petrovac, Cazin, Ključ), promised to support important infrastructure projects, and the reconstruction of the hospital is crucial at this moment.

As announced by the SDA USK Cantonal Board after the two-day visit, discussions were held "on a number of significant projects in the fields of infrastructure and economy, such as: Agrokomerc and its revitalization, the Thermal Power Plant in Sanski Most, the Wood Industry with final production, expanding capacities for meat and fish production, tourism development, construction of the Bihać-Cazin expressway with the prospect of connecting the municipalities of Velika Kladuša and Bužim, completion of the Bihać-Bosanska Krupa main road, construction of additional lanes on the Bihać-Ključ main road, Bihać Airport, Cantonal Hospital, Gata Spa".

- We received firm assurances from the delegation members, and some projects were acted upon immediately, that for all projects that are within the scope of the realistic and feasible in the short and long term, we have the support of the state leadership, and their implementation will be institutionally monitored directly from the cabinets of the delegation members – announced the SDA USK Cantonal Board.

We remind you that the damage from the fire that broke out on July 26, 2013, to the property of the Cantonal Hospital Dr. Irfan Ljubijankić was estimated at a total of over 1.3 million KM. The FBiH Government, a few days later, led by Nermin Nikšić, provided 500,000 KM, and the then Council of Ministers provided 100,000 KM.