Ostojic: I haven’t found skeletons in the closet but it is dramatic

The first moves were announced by the Minister of Health Rajko Ostojic at the press conference on Tuesday. He also signed the contract of cooperation with the Federal Minister of Health of BiH Rusmir Mesihovic. The first moves refer to waiting lists that should become shorter; the change of legislation connected with medically approved artificial insemination and putting the finances in order.  

He hasn’t found skeletons in the closet but he hasn’t found any money either.

- The situation is terrible! Although the data for the period from January to September show that revenue is bigger than expenses, the real situation shows it is just the matter of prolonging the dates of payment – he pointed out. The bills for transplantations are paid within 90 days, instead of 30 days, the prescribed medicines within 180 instead of 120 days and expensive treatments within 90 instead of 30 days as stated in contracts.

The dues were 450 mil HRK by the end of September, but if the deadlines for payment and the law of fiscal responsibility were obeyed, then the dues would be in fact 2.1 billion. In that case, it is 50 per cent from the total debt and not 10 per cent as it was presented – Ostojic warned. He also pointed out that hospitals owe 3.1 billion out of which there are debts to the employees 500 mil worth.

- We will insist to have an audit, not to charge anyone, but to have a clear situation from the start – Ostojic said. He also mentioned the problem of the new building in Klinika za tumore hospital. The building hasn’t been used for a year now because of the argument between the Ministry and the construction company.

- We will try to solve this problem as well, but I can’t talk about it at the moment because the State Attorney’s office has been involved into the whole case. There is also a problem of Merkur hospital where the transplantation center has been built for 6 years now – he pointed out. The problems of private hospitals and clinics that have contracts with HZZO will also find themselves on the agenda, Ostojic claims.

- This ministry won’t let private monopoly on any diagnostic service or operation – Ostojic promised. He will ask all the heads of hospitals to give information about the waiting lists and the reasons for them.

- The most common reason is the lack of materials like contact lenses, stents or artificial limbs. We cannot increase the limits for hospitals and we cannot give doctors and nurses higher salaries at the moment. But what we can do is the better conditions and the working hours adjusted for the patients. It means that hospitals will work in the afternoons as well – Ostojic announced. He also added that they will implement the model of daily hospitals for all minimally invasive operations for which this kind of treatment is appropriate.

The cooperation of the Ministry of Health with the Ministry of BiH will be realized through 12 points. The key issue is the cooperation in the transplantation program in which Croatia has the leading position in Europe regarding the number of kidney and liver transplant operations.