Heads of World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN offices in Bosnia Victora Olsavszky and Ingrid Macdonald said they were pleased with Sarajevo University Clinical Centre's work and quick reaction to Covid-19, after meeting with Sebija Izetbegovic, the Centre's general manager on Thursday.

“The health system in Bosnia is at a pretty good level compared to the countries in the region. You have modern medical equipment and professional staff. The Clinical Centre did an excellent job, but of course, more can be done and we should strive for improvements in every segment. Implementing quality reform of the health care system would certainly make it much easier for health care professionals as well as patients. The World Health Organization is open to cooperation and assistance on the road to building a strong health care system in the country,” said Dr Olsavszky.

UN Coordinator for the country, Ingrid Macdonald, said meetings such as this one are of great use for sharing information and identifying models of cooperation to help overcome the crisis caused by the new coronavirus. Macdonald agreed that it is necessary to make certain changes in all segments of work, including health care.

Hospital's general manager Dr Sebija Izetbegovic stated that with a timely reaction and reorganization they showed how to react in crisis situations.

“Our Crisis Staff has been active since January 31, since which time we have intensified the procurement of personal protective equipment for our employees, as well as the necessary medicines and medical equipment. In just one day we moved the Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis from the Podhrastovi site to new premises within the Clinical Centre, and there are currently 100 hospital beds available at Podhrastovi. In addition, we formed a second isolation ward in the premises of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, capable of receiving 200 patients,” Izetbegovic said. “Both isolation wards are covered by teams of specialist physicians and medical staff. A special team of doctors works with our Covid-19 patients, and they have no contact with other patients.”

Izetbegovic concluded that the crisis once again confirmed that urgent implementation of quality reform of the health care system is necessary in order to determine the correct path for patients seeking help so that they do not have to wander in search of service.