The Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs have informed that everyone within their jurisdiction, takes all necessary measures to ensure adequate protection, disposal and records of embryos and biological material from the premises of the private health institution “Northwestern Medical Center” in Sarajevo, which hastily closed its doors to its patients, leaving them in a panic.
– In accordance with its competences, the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs ordered the Zenica Cantonal Hospital – Department for Human Reproduction, Menopause and Aesthetic Gynecological Endocrinology, to immediately take over the biological material and embryos located in the premises of the mentioned private institution.
It has a solution
Zenica Cantonal Hospital has been designated to take over biological material and embryos because it is the only public health institution that has a decision from the Federal Ministry of Health on meeting the conditions for biomedically assisted fertilization (BMPO).
The Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs additionally ordered the Zenica Cantonal Hospital to carry out the transport of biological material and embryos in accordance with the Guidelines for Infertility Treatment, which were adopted by the Commission for the Application of BMPO Procedures of the Federal Ministry of Health (appointed on the basis of the Act on the Treatment of Infertility with Biomedically Assisted Fertilization) – said the Ministry of Health.
Upon receipt, biological material and embryos will be temporarily stored in quarantine, in accordance with the aforementioned Guidelines, until a detailed examination of the material, embryos and accompanying documentation by an embryologist.
– After determining the compliance of the biological material and embryo with the exempted documentation, and in accordance with the Infertility Treatment Guidelines of the Commission for the Application of BMPO Procedures of the Federal Ministry of Health, patients will be issued official certificates that will enable the transfer of their material to the clinic of their choice, where they wish to continue or start the in vitro fertilization procedure.
Request sent
The Federal Ministry of Health requests all patients to be patient and show understanding until all procedures for examination and disposal of biological material and embryos are fully completed.
After the completion of the mentioned activities, patients will be individually contacted and informed about further steps, for which, in accordance with the order of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, the Hospital in Zenica, in cooperation with the Institute of Health Insurance and Reinsurance of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is in charge – adds the Ministry of Health.
The Federal Ministry of Health, within its competences, will continue to monitor the implementation of all measures and ensure that the entire process takes place in accordance with professional and legal regulations, with the ultimate goal of protecting the rights and interests of patients, and will timely inform the public about all relevant information and next steps, he writes. Avaz.
