Where did our heroes in white go?

By: Amina CORBO-ZECO

Where I come from, medical doctor is a highly esteemed profession. Doctors used to receive a great deal of gratitude for what they do. Can anything be more humane than saving lives?

We had even greater respect for them during the aggression on BiH. That feeling that we could not thank them enough. They were and they remain our heroes in white.

However, today I wonder what ever happened to those strong-willed people who are today 'forced' to keep silent to obvious destruction of their dignity at the Clinical center of the University of Sarajevo.

Is it possible that almost 30 medical doctors left their jobs at the center for the lack of courage to confront the ambition of Dr Sebija Izetbegovic? Could an insatiable ambition defeat such a noble profession? Are those the same people we once endlessly respected? There does not seem to be any individual will to make a difference for sake of dignity.  

Without much ado, these former heroes, once respected by the nation, are now signing petitions against their colleagues who do not shy from speaking their mind, against unsuitable departments, against dean of medical school...

Such MDs come to Dr Izetbegovic's press conferences, in a group of 20 and more, applauding every single word she utters. When they bump into the colleagues who dared to confront Izetbegovic's in her campaign towards her obvious supreme goal – to rule the health sector in the federation.  

The heroes in white whisper about their endless troubles down the corridors of the Sarajevo clinic. Most of them prefer to speak anonymously, instead expecting journalists to fight for their rights. There are rumors about terror, non-existence of the basic work conditions such as the equipment and materials for check-ups and surgeries, while manager Izetbegovic is skillfully paying back the debts. Yet, nobody can see the final financial reports of the Clinical center as it is being withheld from the public. Surely, people would like to see exact and real results of this widely promoted saving campaign.   

The doctors fear losing their jobs, their licenses, or they just leave in silence, cowardly!

The workers of Feroelektro, TTU, Borac, Krivaja, and DITA... took to the streets requesting their rights, fighting against injustice, defending the stamps, protecting their companies, blocking the factory doors, building tent camps... Their children do not have even bread to eat, yet they have courage and pride to stand up to the politics and the state force. Who are our heroes in white afraid of?!

This is not only the issue of the doctors but also of the patients, who are the most important piece of the health system chain. Humanity for patients is one of the primary characteristics of this profession. Yet, humanity has been lacking for some time at the Clinical center. It is cruel to send a patient home because he does not have 600 KM for an operation. May we mention the Hippocratic Oath here?

'I will absolutely respect life from its inception', is just a part of what they uttered, and what they ought to be practicing. That's why, one should respect the dignity of his profession in the first place, and then the lives of the patients: '... regardless of creed, nationality, race, political or class affiliation.'

We need you to be our heroes in white again. Otherwise, good luck with Sebija. Neither of us deserves any better.