Problems at Apoteka Beograd have been accumulating for some time now. In addition to the citizens who have been affected by such issues, the employees are also struggling. A newly formed union “Opstanak” (Survival) has called for a protest to inform the public about the situation in this company, which serves an important role in public health.
Jelena Šikuljak, the president of the emerging “Opstanak” union, told Mašina “Apoteka Beograd maintained a façade of a well-managed company until April of this year. Then, delays in employee paychecks began and the workers started asking questions. It was only in June that the current director announced that we have no money and that all revenue is going towards salaries and goods, depending on the priorities of each month. For example, on July 10, half of June salaries were paid, and on August 12, we were given an advanced payment from July. Since then, there has been nothing.”
In addition to unpaid wages, there is a widespread shortage of medicines across the Apoteka Beograd pharmacies.
“The shortage of medicines is a consequence of poor business policies. We have claims from the Republic’s Health Insurance Fund (RFZO) totaling 500 million dinars, which would cover four full salaries. This means there is not enough money either for salaries nor for goods. That’s why there are fewer and fewer medicines. At this moment, we can only procure a week’s worth of supplies for a selection of medicines,” said Šikuljak.
She added that it is very difficult for pharmacists to adjust to not having what patients need in general but also “especially because we know that the flu season and other typical seasonal illnesses are starting, and we don’t have the basic medicines for that, let alone in sufficient quantities.”
The protest is scheduled in front of the City’s administrative building as the employees call on the City, as the company’s founder, to fulfill its obligations under Article 13 of the Health Care Law. According to the employees, this law requires the City to provide workers with suitable working conditions, including keeping a stock of sufficient medicines and medical supplies. “This would help us survive and get back on our feet,” says Šikuljak.
The union president also told us that the company’s management is unsettled by the establishment of the new union “Opstanak” and that they have attempted to prevent the organization of Friday’s protest.
The current problems at Apoteka Beograd can also be linked to larger plans by the city administration which surfaced publicly a few years ago: privatization. At that time, the media reported that Apoteka Beograd was next in line to be sold after the “Beograđanka” building, Sava Center, and other properties and enterprises owned by the city.
Similar plans to privatize pharmaceutical institutions in Kragujevac and Kraljevo are being met with local resistance as well.
M.M.
