The Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the University Hospital Foča today officially presented automated transparent patient waiting lists for healthcare services. One of the proven best ways to improve service quality and prevent corruption is by introducing the highest possible degree of transparency. In this regard, transparent waiting lists contribute to improving healthcare services, citizens’ right to health, and access to medical care.
“CCI welcomes all healthcare institutions, including the University Hospital Foča, that have introduced this system in their operations, and we call on other healthcare institutions to follow good practices and establish transparent patient waiting lists, as they provide multiple benefits both to the local community and citizens as well as to healthcare facilities. Increasing transparency in this area improves oversight of waiting lists and directly helps prevent corruption. In the long run, the establishment of this new system should reduce waiting times for patients and provide decision-makers with easier insight into bottlenecks on waiting lists,” said Asmir Ćilimković, Project Manager at the Centers for Civic Initiatives.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, patients often face long waits for non-emergency medical services. Such long waiting times not only directly affect patients’ health and lives but can also lead to corrupt and unlawful practices, such as healthcare workers encouraging bribes or patients offering bribes to speed up services. By enhancing transparency, accountability, and integrity, the University Hospital Foča has demonstrated good practice in establishing systemic preventive solutions.
“Electronic waiting lists will be introduced for the most important medical examinations and procedures. We believe this will improve the quality of healthcare services, ensure better access to information for patients, and prevent potential abuses. In addition to ensuring transparency, electronic waiting lists will allow patients to know at any time of day when they are scheduled for a medical examination,” stated Assistant Professor Dr. Nikolina Dukić, Deputy Director of the University Hospital Foča.
Through this system, transparency has been significantly improved, as citizens, patients, but also representatives of civil society and the media now have public access to waiting lists on the hospital’s website (lc.bolnicafoca.com). The University Hospital Foča publishes all waiting lists with high demand, with the possibility of expanding to other examinations. Furthermore, interested individuals—primarily patients, but also civil society organizations and the media—can monitor potential changes in the available waiting lists.
“We developed software for the automatic creation and public publication of waiting lists, which, after further coordination and staff training, has been operationalized and is now in use. Through this system, patients can monitor their scheduled examinations at any time, see whether significant changes in scheduling occur, while the University Hospital Foča has improved management of waiting lists, better monitoring of patient flows, and enhanced analytical and statistical tracking of service provision. The scheduling procedure itself is simple and adapted for all citizens,” said Mersad Avdić, Director of the Creativo Center.
The establishment of transparent patient waiting lists in healthcare institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina is vital for improving healthcare services and restoring citizens’ trust in the public health system.