Representatives of 16 non-governmental organizations asked the Minister of Health, Budmir Šegrt, to announce what he had done against those who made an omission and allowed the deadline for initiating disciplinary proceedings to expire against doctors suspected of last year's infection in the Bjelopolje hospital. Representatives of the NGO Krug života and Civic Alliance today initiated a public address to Šegrt, on the occasion of the protest of parents whose babies were infected last year in Bjelopolje hospital. This was, as stated, supported by NGO Prima, 4Life, Center for Training and Education, CAZAS, Mogul-Monitoring Group Ulcinj, ADP Zid, Forum MNE, Association for Local Democracy, Food Bank, Montenegrin Women's Lobby, CEDEM, Roma Youth Organization "Step with us - Phiren amenca", Libertask and Center for Women's Rights. From the civil sector, they indicated that Šegrt, after the meeting he held with the parents in Bijelo Polje, admitted that the doctors should have been immediately suspended after the death of a baby and disciplinary proceedings initiated, but that now, due to the passage of time, there is no basis for that. "We do not want to enter into the legal assessment of the actions of individuals, but we have decided to believe Šegrta that omissions were made, because any lump-sum assessment of a situation by the Ministry of Health in such a situation would be frivolous," stated the NGO sector. They demanded that Šegrt answer to the public what he had done against those who made the mistake and allowed the deadline for initiating disciplinary proceedings to expire. "Do you know that because of this, the budget of Montenegro was damaged? Will someone be held accountable for that? Are you aware of the fact that these people received the full amount of their earnings, and that the fathers of the five babies from Bijelo Polje also allocated money for their earnings through taxes and contributions," asked the civil sector. They wonder if the minister understands the damage caused to the medical profession by such behavior and what message is being sent to other hospital directors. "And finally, Minister, should we publicly invite you to do your job, to defend the profession, to protect citizens, and to protect the state? By your actions, contribute to the restoration of citizens' trust in the medical profession and the institutions that are under your jurisdiction", concludes the public address.
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