Long waiting lists, insufficient funds in the Solidarity Fund, and outdated medical technology. These are just some of the problems that the most seriously ill patients in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) face on a daily basis. However, the associations of patients with breast cancer and other diseases say that they will not give up until an adequate systemic solution is found. The House of Representatives of the FBiH adopted an additional 10 million BAM for the Solidarity Fund by rebalancing the budget, which, according to the associations, is a positive but insufficient step.
Nikolina and Enida were best friends. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Nikolina was only 24 years old. Due to long waiting lists – or, as Enida calls them, death lists – Nikolina passed away.
“I planned to choose a beautiful wedding dress for her. Instead, I went and chose the most beautiful white coffin for her. We dressed her in a beautiful silk dress. She was beautiful,” says Enida Glusac, president of the Association of People Suffering from Breast Cancer and Other Malignant Diseases. “Renesansa”.
Alma Serdarevic-Stefanisin, president of the Association of People Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases – “Snaga BiH”, points out that she was told to try to claim their rights in the cantons: “I just have to point out that maybe the Canton Sarajevo (CS) has a benefit, it has 136 million fixed terms deposits. But what about the Bosnian-Podrinje Canton Gorazde or any other canton?”.
In the FBiH, there is no record of how many people died while waiting for therapy. In addition, there are no adequate therapies. The budget funds allocated for the Solidarity Fund for the treatment of the most seriously ill are not sufficient. And that funds can be significantly higher, says the Association of Melanoma Patients of FBiH.
“400 million that could have been raised in the federal fund – if we had that money, we would transport patients by helicopters, planes, instead of ambulances. There really is so much money,” claims Fikret Operta, deputy president of the Association of Melanoma Patients of FBiH.
What frustrates doctors the most is the fact that there are funds and innovative methods of treatment, but not for patients in our country. The main reason for long waiting lists is financial resources. The patients hope that by the end of this year, the cantonal governments and institutes will be able to allocate the remaining 60 million BAM so that the Fund can cover the costs.
