A meeting between director of University Clincal Center Tuzla Prof. Dr. Šekib Umihanić and representatives of oncology patients was held today. The main topic of the meting was the current problems and situation with radiotherapy treatment and proposal for a solution.
A current status report regarding the linear accelerator procurement process was presented at the meeting by Prof. Dr. Umihanić. As a result of the current dynamics of procurement , 100 patients are on the waiting list, who will not received radiological radiation within the optimal period of two months, he said.
According to him, there are between 15 and 20 new patients needing radiotherapy arrive every week, and the number isn’t final. In light of the relevance of the issue caused by the cancellation of the public procurement procedure for the linear accelerator, CT simulator, radiotherapy planning system and phantom, the director of the University Clinical Center Tuzla has issued appeal that will be officially sent to the relevant addresses.
“I invite the High Representative (OHR) to consider the possibility of changing the regulations for a day and to make a decision that will enable the FBiH Government or the Government of Tuzla Canton to procure radiotherapy equipment and devices for University Clinical Center Tuzla, conditionally speaking, under an abbreviated and urgent procurement procedure.
I request the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH and the Prime Minister of FBiH, the Minister of Health of FBiH and the director of Health Insurance Institution of FBiH to be actively involved in solving the health problem and finding a solution for the treatment of 100 oncology patients of the Tuzla Canton. Given that there is a threat to the health and lives of a large number of patients, I will suggest to the authorities that, among other things, a state of emergency be declared if there is a minimum of legal possibilities for such a decision.
All humanitarian organizations operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as all other friendly organizations, the United Nations and the Office of the World Health Organization in Sarajevo are being asked for help in finding a solution and ensuring adequate treatment for cancer patients in the Tuzla Canton. The Prosecutor’s Office of the Tuzla Canton is requested to investigate all the circumstances that led to endangering the health and lives of oncology patients who were prescribed radiotherapy and in connection with the non-implementation of the same in the period March 2023 April 2024# said the director, Prof. Prof. Dr. Umihanić.
The representatives of the association of oncology patients said to the journalists that they provide maximum support to the management of Clinical Center Tuzla and emphasized the importance of radiotherapy equipment procurement. They said that they will do everything in their power to arouse the interest of relevant institutions that can help in finding solutions for the existing problem regarding the acquisition of a linear accelerator.
According to the Law on Public Procurement, the University Clinical Center Tuzla is on the public procurement portal, on 23 October 2023, published the tender documentation for the procurement of “Linear Accelerator, CT Simulator, Radiotherapy Planning System and Phantom” with an estimated value of 8,547,008.55 KM excluding VAT, for which funds were provided by the Government of Tuzla Canton. After receiving a complaint from one of the bidders from the BiH Complaint Review Office, the University Clinical Center Tuzla received a Decision that the complaint is accepted and that the public procurement procedure is completely annulled.