Government of FBiH adopts amendments to the law on organ and tissue transplantation for treatment

(Patria) - The Government of FBiH, at today's emergency session, upon the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Health, adopted the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Organ and Tissue Transplantation for Treatment, and sent it to an urgent parliamentary procedure for adoption.

The proposed law envisages the addition of a new paragraph specifying that the procurement of organs or tissues from a living donor can be carried out from an unrelated living donor exclusively if there is no possibility of donation from a relative, spouse or partner, or relative by affinity, and under the conditions prescribed by this law.

Also, a paragraph is added stating that the procurement of organs or tissues from a living donor for transplantation to a recipient is subject to prior decision by a multidisciplinary expert team and the ethics committee of the healthcare institution where the transplantation will be performed.

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Adnan's (22) life in the hands of politics: Donor secured, rules hindering, and time running out

(Patria) - Adnan Šemić (22) from Mostar, diagnosed with Wilson's disease, is in a race against time for his own life. And this race, although it could have been prevented, has been forced upon him by legal procedures in our country, writes FTV. Namely, although no

In doing so, an assessment and analysis of the reasons for donation will be carried out, as well as a complete medical, physical, and psychosocial assessment of the donor, and written opinion and consent from the donor's chosen primary healthcare physician will be obtained.

The proposal amends the Law by adding a provision that, in the case of organ or tissue procurement from an unrelated living donor, proof of kinship, affinity, marital or extramarital relationship between the donor and recipient is not required.

In the reasons for adopting this law, the proposer emphasized that the Collegium of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, by conclusion of July 8 this year, requested the urgent submission of amendments to the Law on Organ and Tissue Transplantation for Treatment, which would enable transplantation for ill persons without restrictions regarding suitable relatives for donation, i.e., that a donor can be an adult healthy person with full legal capacity, or that the law provides for exceptions.

The proposer explained that "enabling without restrictions" is an unacceptable option, as such regulation would primarily undermine the entire transplantation system defined by the positive provisions of the Law on Organ and Tissue Transplantation for Treatment, requiring the development of a new legal framework and a completely new regulation.

On the other hand, it was also noted that, in light of the Directive of the European Parliament and Council of July 7, 2010, on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation, "enabling without restrictions" objectively opens the possibility of an illegal organ market, and therefore the Federal Ministry of Health opts for the second option, which is to regulate an exception, with the application of certain rules and set conditions.

The Federal Ministry stated that, in addition to the ethics committee, the formation of a multidisciplinary expert team is also regulated, which, as a form of assistance to the ethics committee, will have the primary role and task of addressing, assessing, and analyzing the reasons for organ donation.

Responsibilities

The Government of the FBiH adopted the Information of the Federal Ministry of Health on resolving issues related to ensuring therapy for the treatment of a patient suffering from acute intermittent porphyria in FBiH, and the method of financing the therapy.

The Ministry's Information stated that it concerns a female patient from Mostar who, according to available data, is the only one in BiH with such a disease.

By conclusion, the Government tasked the Health Insurance and Reinsurance Institute of FBiH to procure the drug Givosiran for the patient from Mostar in the amount of KM 59,278.96 (EUR 30,308.85) per month, or KM 711,347.49 (EUR 363,706.20) for 12 months, financed from the Institute's Current Reserve for 2024.

It was also concluded that the Government will provide these funds from the Current Reserve of the FBiH Budget for 2024 to cover the procurement of the drug, which will be transferred to the Health Insurance and Reinsurance Institute of FBiH, to cover the current reserve.

The Federal Ministry of Finance is obliged to prepare a Decision on allocating funds from the Current Reserve of the FBiH Budget for 2024 for the implementation of this conclusion for the next Government session.

The federal ministries of health and finance, and the Health Insurance and Reinsurance Institute of FBiH are responsible for implementation, each within their jurisdiction.

In the Information, the Federal Ministry of Health states that urgent initiation of therapy with the drug Givosiran is indicated, given that it is refractory porphyria, a life-threatening disease. It was emphasized that the patient's life is directly threatened if the disease is not treated.

The Federal Ministry of Health also notes that at the end of last year, it began activities on developing systemic solutions for the issue of rare diseases in the Federation of BiH.

It is added that for the first time in FBiH, and as incorporated into the Ministry's Work Program for 2024, work is being done on developing a legal solution for rare diseases which, in accordance with shared responsibilities, will regulate the registration, record-keeping, and financing of treatment for patients suffering from rare diseases.

Recommendations of the Federal Ministry of Health

The Government of the FBiH, upon the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Health, adopted the Information on the implementation of recommended measures in conditions of extremely high temperatures.

By today's Government conclusion, the implementation of recommended measures in conditions of extremely high temperatures in healthcare institutions throughout the Federation of BiH is supported.

Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Health is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the established recommended measures in cooperation with cantonal ministries of health and public health institutes in the Federation of BiH.

The relevant federal ministries are tasked with determining recommended measures in conditions of extremely high temperatures within their respective authorities and ordering their implementation at lower levels of government.

As the Federal Ministry of Health pointed out, the purpose of the Information is to inform members of the FBiH Government about the measures being taken by this ministry in cooperation with the Public Health Institute of FBiH, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Health Protection.

Among other measures, the Federal Ministry recommends that working hours at the primary healthcare level and specialist-consultative services begin at 7 AM, and that priority in healthcare services be given to chronic patients, young children, pregnant women, and persons over 65 years of age.

It is recommended that parents bringing children for vaccinations against infectious diseases do so no later than 10 AM.

Employers are recommended to shift the start of working hours for employees performing outdoor work to 6 AM, and if the nature of the work does not allow this, to consider the possibility of suspending work between 11 AM and 6 PM and resuming it after 6 PM.

It is also recommended that working hours can be shortened proportionally to the harmful impact of working conditions on the health and work capacity of employees. The Federal Ministry, among other things, also recommended that institutions starting work at 9 AM shift their start time to 8 AM.

The Information also states that the public should be continuously informed about general protective measures against high temperatures (avoiding movement between 10 AM and 5 PM, wearing loose light-colored clothing, using hats and sunglasses, drinking sufficient fluids, consuming fruits and vegetables, and that travelers should take more frequent breaks and drink smaller amounts of fluids more often, etc.).

Furthermore, the public is advised to stay in cooled and air-conditioned rooms, but to ensure that the temperature difference between rooms and the outside is not more than five degrees Celsius.

In the Information, the Federal Ministry of Health emphasizes that it will inform cantonal ministries of health about the implementation of these measures, in order to ensure their implementation, i.e., to organize the provision of healthcare services, as well as the functioning of healthcare institutions in conditions of extremely high temperatures.

Financial Support in Veterinary Medicine

The Government of the FBiH, upon the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, adopted the Program for the expenditure of funds with distribution criteria "Subsidies to private companies and entrepreneurs - Incentives for Veterinary Medicine", established by the FBiH Budget for 2024, in the amount of KM 3,300,000.

The purpose of the Program is the testing for infectious diseases brucellosis, tuberculosis, and enzootic bovine leukosis, as well as blood samples of animals that have aborted and equines for equine infectious anemia, and official samples for the presence of salmonella in live poultry on approved or registered farms.

It is also intended for testing in case of the occurrence of zoonotic diseases and other sporadically occurring diseases, the occurrence of which can significantly affect animal health or have significant economic consequences. Its purpose is also testing for American foulbrood of bee larvae (AFB), and compensation for losses of deceased, killed, or slaughtered and harmlessly disposed of animals.

Furthermore, the program is intended for the implementation of disinfection, disinsection, and deratization (DDD) measures on infected premises and transport vehicles, as well as education of animal owners and additional training of veterinary doctors through consultations and seminars.

The purpose of the Program is also to monitor the health safety of food of animal origin in approved and registered facilities, and to implement approved programs and plans whose implementation will provide more detailed information on the presence of animal disease agents and enable timely measures to prevent their spread.

Beneficiaries of the Program are veterinary stations and institutions that conduct veterinary activities in accordance with the Law on Veterinary Medicine, as well as owners of harmlessly disposed of animals.

The federal ministries of agriculture, water management and forestry, and finance are responsible for the implementation of today's Decision on the adoption of this program, each within their jurisdiction.

Personnel Decisions

The Government of the FBiH today determined its Opinion on the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Health, stating that it agrees with the Opinion of the Office for Legislation and EU Compliance, that the temporary Management Board of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo is obliged to operate at full capacity and make decisions within its jurisdiction until the Government of the FBiH makes a decision on its dismissal.

The Government of the FBiH has given its consent to the competent body of the company Agrokomerc d.d. Velika Kladuša for the appointment of Mirza Bajić as acting director, until the completion of the tender procedure, and for a maximum of 12 months.

Prior to this, consent was given to the acting members of the Supervisory Board of this company to make a decision on the dismissal of the previous director due to the expiration of his mandate.

Jasmin Rustemi (Union Banka d.d. Sarajevo) and Ernest Đonko (BH Pošta d.o.o. Sarajevo) have been authorized to participate in the work and decision-making at the upcoming general meetings of companies today.

These decisions were made by the Government of the FBiH at an emergency session held via telephone, while the regular 38th session, which was scheduled for today, has been postponed to next week due to the obligations of the Government members.