The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) parliamentary group has requested from the parliamentary Committee on Health, Labor and Social Welfare an urgent control hearing of the heads of the healthcare system and the Ministry of Finance due to, as stated by the party, major problems in the healthcare sector.
DPS MP Elvir Zvrko said that they are demanding an urgent hearing of Health Minister Vojislav Šimun, with the mandatory presence of Finance Minister Novica Vuković and the directors of Montefarm and the Health Insurance Fund (FZO), Aleksandar Bogavac and Vuk Kadić.
Zvrko said at a press conference in parliament that the healthcare system could no longer wait.
"The question is no longer whether the healthcare system has problems, but how much longer it can withstand this attitude of the government towards the health of citizens," said Zvrko.
He reminded that the session of the Committee on Health, Labor and Social Welfare, at which, at the request of the opposition, a consultative hearing of Šimun and Vuković regarding the situation in healthcare was to be held, was postponed on Monday.
According to Zvrk, the harsh criticisms that Kadić directs at Šimun clearly indicate that key decision-makers in the healthcare system are not functioning as a team.
"The Government only responded to the numerous requests made by the Health Insurance Fund on October 15th, approving 30 million euros for the procurement of medicines and medical supplies. We are certain that this is not enough, and therefore explanations are needed on how the functioning of the health system is expected to be by the end of the year," said Zvrko.
As he stated, there was evidence that the most seriously ill patients were left without medication in the previous period.
Zvrko pointed out that medicines are almost 13 percent more expensive today than at the beginning of the year and that citizens pay 40 percent out of their own pockets for services in the healthcare system.
He said that the next problem is staff attrition, adding that, according to available data, 250 workers have left the health system in the last three years, of which around 70 are specialists.
"The Director of the Clinical Center (KCCG), Aleksandar Radović, said that competition from private institutions has become unfair and that the opening of new private hospitals is expected to result in additional departures of doctors and nurses from the public sector," said Zvrko.
According to him, this is something that should worry everyone, because healthcare workers are leaving the public sector because it is not functioning adequately.
"If the director of the KCCG knows all this, the Minister of Health certainly knows it too. It is important what steps he will take and whether he will support our bill to increase the salaries of nursing staff, which will soon be in the procedure," said Zvrko.
He emphasized that forged diplomas are also a problem, but that there is no significant reaction from Šimun.
Zvrko pointed out that patients are also facing long waiting lists.
"According to the data, today there is a six-month wait for specialist examinations at the KCCG. If there is that much waiting at the KCCG, how long is the wait at hospitals in the interior," asked Zvrko.
He also recalled the tragic event at the Nikšić General Hospital, when a newborn who was born healthy died.
"In a civilized society, the death of a newborn cannot be treated as an unfortunate event. It is a tragedy that must trigger the entire healthcare system, and we expect Šimun to examine the responsibility within the system and check the quality of work in maternity wards," said Zvrko.
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