AGREEMENT ENABLES HEALTHCARE FOR RETURNEES FROM POSAVINA CANTON IN SRPSKA FACILITIES

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 21 /SRNA/ – A protocol on the treatment of returnees from Posavina Canton in the University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska and the St. Apostle Luke Hospital in Doboj has been signed today in Banja Luka.

The protocol was signed by Republika Srpska Minister of Health and Social Welfare Alen Šeranić, acting director of the Republika Srpska Secretariat for Displaced Persons and Migration Slađan Jović, acting director of the University Clinical Center Nikola Šobot, director of the St. Apostle Luke Hospital in Doboj Mladen Gajić, and president of the Serb civic association Posavina Damir Ivetić.

Šeranić said the protocol enables access to secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare.

"The protocol implies that returnees in Posavina Canton will be able, based on a referral from the relevant primary healthcare center, to receive secondary care services at Doboj Hospital or tertiary care within the University Clinical Center," Šeranić told reporters after the signing.

Jović said the agreement demonstrates that the Republika Srpska Government also takes care of Serb returnees in the Federation of BiH.

"In the coming period, we will jointly assess where else such solutions should be offered to Serb returnees," Jović said.

Ivetić noted that several months ago, during consultations with then prime minister-designate and now Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić, discussions were held on this kind of support for the population.

"This protocol will cover around 1,000 returnees in Posavina Canton across all three municipalities," Ivetić said.

Šobot reminded that the signing of the agreement stemmed from Prime Minister Minić's expose.

"Our doors have always been open, and we have strived to be there for all our patients. Through this agreement, we will regulate the treatment of Serb returnees in Posavina Canton," Šobot said.

The signatories noted that similar protocols are already being implemented for returnees in Livno Canton, namely in Drvar, Grahovo, and Glamoč, as well as in Una-Sana Canton, including Bosanski Petrovac, Sanski Most, Bosanska Krupa, and Bihać.