For Whom Was the Competition Announced at the KS Health Center: Discrimination in Action, Management Silent!

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Public Institution Health Center of Sarajevo Canton announced a public advertisement on December 17 for the filling of several job positions. Among other things, it is looking for 13 family medicine doctors, two speech therapists, a hygiene worker, several medical technicians...

In addition to a diploma in general secondary medical school, a certificate of passing the professional exam, the advertisement also requires proof of completed family medicine training!

A doctor from the KS Health Center, who spoke on condition of anonymity as she is not authorized to give statements, explains that only a person who has worked or is currently working in a family medicine practice can have this proof of training. In her opinion, it is very possible that someone has already been hired for the medical technician positions, even though there have been no similar competitions!

- This is discrimination against those who have passed the professional exam and completed adequate schooling but did not have the opportunity to work. According to the competition instructions, a technician or nurse from another institution, or someone who stopped working after training for some reason, can apply, but not those who have never worked – says this doctor, adding that the competition discriminates against all medical technicians and nurses without work experience who might apply for the position of nurse/technician in the Family Medicine Service of the Novi Grad Health Center, which is what the announced competition refers to.

It may also be problematic that the advertisement was published on a Sunday, when there is a lower probability that potential applicants will see it, thus reducing the number of days in which potential applicants can organize and apply for the competition. Non-governmental organizations that monitor public competitions warn that an advertisement on a weekend is the first sign that a competition may be predetermined.

The management of the JU Health Center KS, led by director Fuad Husić, did not want to speak to Patria regarding the controversial competition. They did not respond to the urgent request of December 27 either. 

The ombudsmen for human rights have also been informed of this case.

The same interlocutor believes that director Husić is trying to retain all previously hired employees, who were hired without a competition, through job systematization.

- In the KS Health Centers, you also have florists employed. Along with competitions for doctors, competitions are also announced for positions that must be filled through fictitious competitions.”

The Government of Sarajevo Canton recently adopted a conclusion by which it continues with the moratorium on new indefinite-term employment in all cantonal administrative bodies, administrations and administrative organizations, in administrations and administrative organizations that are part of ministries, public institutions, public funds, cantonal public utility companies, public enterprises and heads of other budget users, without the prior consent of the KS Government until December 31, 2018.

The Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Elmedin Konaković, and the Minister of Health of KS, Zilha Ademaj, are aware of the KS Health Center competition, but have not yet commented.

The Municipal Court in Sarajevo is currently trying the Secretary General of SDA, Amir Zukić, and other defendants for several criminal offenses, including illegal employment at the KS Health Center.

At the Court, Bersad Međuseljac and Nihada Kulovac testified, speaking about how Alma Međuseljac, Bersed's wife, was employed at the JU Health Center KS, Ilijaš business unit, through one of the defendants, Safet Bibić.
Nihada Kulovac, an employee of the JU Health Center KS in Vogošća, said that she knew Safet Bibić as a university assistant and that she had purely collegial relations with him. She said that she mediated the meeting between Bibić and Amela Međuseljac by asking Bibić for some information about the situation at KCUS when Međuseljac needed to undergo some tests.

Later, she would find out that Međuseljac paid 20,000 KM for the job!

Letter to the Health Center

Inquiry from the Patria editorial office, which the JU Health Center KS refuses to answer.

On Sunday, December 17, you published an advertisement for the filling of several job positions. We kindly ask for clarification; why was the competition published on a Sunday, given that non-governmental organizations have repeatedly warned that publishing advertisements on weekends is the first sign that the competition is rigged?
We also ask for clarification on how a person applying for position 9 (medical technician – general direction) could have proof of completed family medicine training?
If there is someone who already performs this job on a fixed-term contract and has obtained the required proof, how is it possible that they were hired without a competition? If such a person was hired, please provide the exact date of the advertisement based on which they were hired?
Who can have proof of completed family medicine training?
Does such a requirement discriminate against certain candidates?