More funds should be directed to preventive health programs

(Patria) - Minister of Health of the Sarajevo Canton Amela Sofić with associates visited today the Institute for the Protection of Women and Maternity where the director of the Institute Mithat Kurtović and doctors informed them about the method and scope of the Institute's work. The basic activity of the institution is the protection of women's reproductive health and maternity at the primary level of health care and the activity of specialist-consultative diagnostics. The fact that doctors at this Institute perform around 260,000 examinations annually reflects its place and importance in the health care of women and children.

Work is organized within the gynecological, perinatal, endocrinological, radiological, cytological service and family planning service and takes place at eight locations, with working hours in two shifts from 7:30 to 20:00. As they pointed out at the Institute, the spatial capacities of the institution are in satisfactory condition, and all locations have ultrasound machines, and at three locations they also have three mammography machines operated by four radiologists.

At seven locations, ultrasound breast examinations are performed, and the breast cancer prevention and detection program is highlighted as an active and significant program of the Institute. “The Ministry of Health has recognized preventive programs as a particularly important part of health care. In this year's Ministry Budget, this item was increased from 100 thousand to 250 thousand KM. We jointly implement youth education programs on the importance of caring for and preserving reproductive health with health institutions.

"Our intention is to provide more financial resources for preventive health programs in the coming period together with the Health Insurance Institute," stated Minister Amela Sofić, who assessed the work of this Institute as very good and significant for preserving the health of women and children in the Sarajevo Canton.

The total number of employees is 119, of which 95 are health workers, including 29 specialist doctors and 5 doctors of medicine.