Zagreb academic Dr. Vukičević: Europe is against the dismissal of Dr. Gavrankapetanović, protect him!

Zagreb academic Dr. Slobodan Vukičević told the Patria agency that the dismissal of Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović from the head of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Clinical Center in Sarajevo is an international scandal, as it concerns the best European orthopedist, who was dismissed by the management based on a political matrix, not because he violated professional rules.

"Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović is one of the best European orthopedists. Here in Croatia, what is happening in Sarajevo has been met with shock," said academician Vukičević.

The decision to dismiss Dr. Gavrankapetanović was made a few days ago by the manager of KCUS, Dr. Sebija Izetbegović, but none of her colleagues wanted to accept this position, after which a session of the KCUS Management Board was convened yesterday, which is supposed to appoint a new head of Sarajevo orthopedics.

Several doctors have been mentioned in the media who are allegedly supposed to take over Gavrankapetanović's position, but none of this news has been officially confirmed yet.

Also, KCUS has not provided an explanation as to why they are dismissing Dr. Gavrankapetanović. The decision has therefore been called a political decision implemented by the manager of the largest healthcare institution in the country, Dr. Izetbegović, who is also the wife of the ruling SDA president and member of the BiH Presidency, Bakir Izetbegović.

"Many people with whom Dr. Gavrankapetanović has collaborated for years are shocked," says Dr. Vukičević, adding that it is not only experts from the region, but orthopedists from all over the world.

"I was called from a major orthopedics department in Vienna. Everyone there is appalled. No one can believe it. They asked me what form of support we can all offer Professor Gavrankapetanović. No one can believe that politics is interfering in such a way," emphasizes Dr. Vukičević.

He said that the primary and fundamental issue is that heads of clinics are elected for life. This practice is followed in Austria and Germany, and in all civilized countries. Only in this way can the quality of the profession be preserved.

"The question is what social networks are doing. Why aren't patients rebelling. There is no other way. You have to protect Professor Gavrankapetanović," Vukičević urged, adding that the academic community from Croatia might also react soon.