“Let’s heal health care”: Prevention of corruption in health care – better patient health care

Sarajevo, 31. May, 2022: Zenica Cantonal Hospital is the first health institution in BiH that accepted and implemented innovative software/program for automatic creation and public publication of patient waiting lists. Patients of this hospital, as well as citizens, non-governmental organizations, the media and anyone interested, have been able to follow up-to-date waiting lists on the website of the Zenica Cantonal Hospital for two years.

This is just one of the results of the “Cure Health” project funded by the European Union and implemented by Transparency International (TI BiH) and Centers for Civil Initiatives (CCI). The project brought together 15 health care institutions, health workers, civil society organizations and institutions, in order to fight against corruption in the health sector and thereby ensure more efficient and accessible health services for citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This and other key results of the project, for the implementation of which the European Union provided 490,000 euros, were presented at the final conference held in Sarajevo under the title “ Prevention of corruption in the health sector – presentation of good practices. ”

“The fight against corruption is at the top of the priorities of the Opinion of the European Commission on the membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU. And this project is a direct response to that. During the period of the COVID-19 epidemic, we learned how important the functioning of the health system is and the provision of equal access to health services for all patients. Equal access to health is not only the provision of services, but also TRANSPARENCY, and the equality of citizens, which requires changes in policy and legislation, in order to ensure the ultimate goal – more efficient patient care. This project has shown how it can be done, and we hope that many will join the initiatives launched during its realization”, said Enrico Visentin, program manager for Justice and anti-corruption, Delegation of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project is part of a broader EU strategy in the rule of law sector, which aims to improve the fight against corruption through greater participation of relevant CSOs.

Memorandum on cooperation with the project was signed by: Bihać Cantonal Hospital; Health Center Travnik; Health Center Lopare; Health Center Banja Luka; General Hospital “Abdullah Nakaš” Sarajevo; UCC Tuzla; Health Center Bijeljina; Health center Doboj; Gradiška Hospital; Foča University Hospital; Health Center Brčko; Health center Tomislavgrad; Health Center “Isak Samokovlija” Goražde; Konjic General Hospital; Zenica Cantonal Hospital.

“As a result of this partnership, the systematic introduction of new anti-corruption internal acts in the segments of public procurement, conflict of interest, human resources management and financial management was initiated. So far, 15 new Regulations and other internal acts have been adopted, and about 30 are in the process of being adopted. This will significantly improve the corruption prevention system in the mentioned areas, which can result in financial savings, better trained medical workers and better health care for patients,” said Emsad Dizdarević, project manager of TI BiH.

The “Cure Health” project contributed to a large extent to the adoption of entity strategies for the development of the system of internal financial controls in the public sector. Also, as one of the long-term results, the Coalition for Monitoring and Advocating the Fight Against Corruption in Health Care was highlighted and formed, which, in the coming period, will try to respond to challenges in this area and continue to work especially at the local level.

The project of prevention and fight against corruption in healthcare (Let’s heal healthcare), financed by the European Union in the amount of 490,000 euros, aims to contribute to reducing the risk of corruption in the health sector in BiH by improving transparency, accountability and integrity in 15 public health institutions in BiH and to establish systemic preventive solutions in areas of risk of corruption. More information about the project is available at https://www.euresurs.ba/projekat/izlijecimo-zdravstvo-(2018.)/9

Announcement Conference 31.5.2022.