The Republic of Srpska Minister of Health and Social Welfare Alen Šeranić said that the budget of the line ministry for this year is about KM 212 million, which is KM 90 million more than last year, which indicates the Government’s commitment to regulate this area in the best possible way.
The goal is to make health and social care services well organized and accessible to all citizens, Šeranić said.
He emphasized that the largest segment of the budget increase is that this ministry has taken over the transfer of funds from the Ministry of Labor and Veterans-Disability Protection, which are allocated to persons who were on the register of the Employment Service.
He explained that with the new Law on Health Insurance, these persons were transferred to the records of the Health Insurance Fund, which is an additional 57.6 million KM in the Ministry’s budget.
– On the other hand, according to the Government’s decisions on investments in the field of health care, the budget has also increased under this item, which implies the continuation of activities to improve the operation of hospitals, primarily in Foča, and on the construction of a hospital in Doboj and Zvornik – said Šeranić.
Two investments are planned in the University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska to address parking issues and to initiate the construction of a new oncology facility.
Šeranić noted that larger allocations were also planned for the rights in the field of child protection, in line with the amendments to the Law on Social Protection and the Law on Child Protection, which were adopted at the end of last year.
– One of the significant plans for this year is the launch of cardiac surgery in the Republic of Srpska, and I expect this project to be very successful – said the Minister.
Preparations for the introduction of the first breast cancer screening program
Šeranić says he expects a republican screening program aimed at preventative action on citizens will be established next year.
– We will be preparing for the first screening program very soon, and we have decided that it will be the first for breast cancer. We also need to plan what to do with those who are diagnosed with a particular disease, how to approach them and allow them to enter the health care system as soon as possible and carry out the necessary examinations – the minister said.
He noted that it is a demanding organizational project whose implementation requires legal solutions, but also money.
Regarding legal solutions, he stated that the plan is to adopt a package of laws in the field of health that will contribute to better functioning of the health system in Srpska.
– There are numerous issues that we will discuss throughout the year and discuss with partners, and I expect that this will be a key issue this year, with a clear commitment from the Government and the Ministry of Finance to address what most burdens the healthcare system – the debts that particular healthcare institutions they make it impossible for them to function normally – said Šeranić.
Transparent waiting lists
When it comes to waiting lists in healthcare facilities, Šeranić says it is a mechanism that is used everywhere in the world when it comes to health care.
– The bottom line is that waiting lists are transparent. We intend to regulate this area through the new health care law, for transparency reasons, regardless of whether the waiting list is kept by health institutions or the Health Insurance Fund – said Šeranić.
According to him, the goal is for a certain population, such as patients suffering from the most serious illnesses or the working-age population, to go through the health care system as soon as possible and finish whatever it takes to receive therapy or to continue working.
– Besides the transparency of waiting lists and certain rights of patients, the new law on health care will define a clear position and responsibility of the work of the directors of health care institutions with the aim of standardizing the institutions, as well as titles and competences – said Šeranić.
Regarding the outflow of personnel in the field of health care, Seranic stated that the analyses showed that the majority of nurses and technicians and specialist doctors were leaving.
– However, the data shows their departure from public health institutions, which does not mean that they left the Republic of Srpska. A third of the staff remain in Srpska in private healthcare facilities or from primary yarn to secondary care – said Šeranić.
He emphasized that it is necessary to find a model according to which the advancement of workers will be applied to those who bear the brunt of the healthcare system. The minister said that they were talking to trade unions in this regard, and that certain models had been developed that would be proposed to the union.
Regarding the treasury mode of business of health institutions, Šeranić noted that the Ministry will continue to work on introducing this type of business into health centers, which requires resolving certain obligations and debts of these institutions from the previous period.
– Some institutions cannot go into the treasury business if they are not dealt with obligations they pull from the previous period, otherwise local municipalities would be put at a disadvantage when it comes to organizing their budget – explained Šeranić.
He emphasized the importance of partnership and cooperation between municipalities, health care institutions and the Government in addressing this issue.
Last year, we estimated that the transfusion and forensic departments were ready to enter the treasury business, which was done, and this year the health centers in Derventa, Bratunac and Prnjavor will be – said Šeranić.
Speaking about the activities carried out in the past year, Šeranić expressed satisfaction that the rights of the most vulnerable population in the Republic of Srpska were improved.
– First of all, there is the introduction of the right to personal disability benefits and to categories that we have expanded in comparison to the previous period – said Šeranić, emphasizing the importance of rights in the field of child protection, which was also expanded.
The minister stressed that he was pleased that at the time of great challenges, the health care system in Srpska was maintained, bearing in mind that health care costs in the world were increasing by five to eight percent.
TST
