The departure of the US Director Ljubljana comes much too late

Dr. Tina Bregant, a member of the Ljubljana City Council and president of the Social Liberal Party (SLS), has criticized the resignation of Prof. Dr. Antonija Poplas Susič, director of the Ljubljana Health Centre (ZD Ljubljana), stating that it comes far too late for patients who have been left without personal doctors or pediatricians over the years. She highlighted that warnings about poor conditions for both staff and patients had gone unheeded for many years. As a city council member, she emphasized that during her last term, she and colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about mass departures of healthcare professionals and inadequate patient care conditions. She mentioned that city council members participated in visits to the Ministry of Health with the intention of addressing these issues. However, despite receiving warnings even from the previous government's ministry, the leadership of the Ministry of Health did not respond adequately. There have been no significant changes for patients and employees within the ZD Ljubljana since the time when people stood in freezing temperatures outside ZD Bežigrad early in the morning with blankets in hand, trying to get access to a personal doctor, until the day designated for administrative tasks by medical staff. During the first extraordinary session of the Ljubljana City Council, which was requested on her initiative and signed by all opposition members, the severity of the crisis was clearly presented, along with proposals for comprehensive measures: Conducting talks and mediation with all doctors, nurses, and therapists who have left ZD Ljubljana with the aim of their return; Establishing information and administrative centers to reduce the burden on doctors and healthcare workers regarding administrative tasks such as patient records, prescriptions, and orders; Introducing telemedicine services for easier access for elderly patients directly from home; Providing housing for healthcare workers through the Public Housing Fund and scholarships for students of medicine and nursing, as well as specialists in primary care, pediatrics, gynecology, and obstetrics; Ensuring parking spaces for healthcare personnel, a concern that has become increasingly problematic due to the introduction of paid parking and night shifts. The city council members from Freedom and the List of Zoran Janković, due to their numerical majority, handled this issue in a completely dismissive manner. They were not prepared to listen to the problems, let alone consider solutions for residents. Although her warnings, questions, and initiatives were initially rejected with the excuse that "paper handles everything," the local authority later partially accepted some of these proposals (such as scholarships and partial resolution of housing issues). This demonstrates that solutions have always been on the table, but there has been a lack of political will to implement them in a timely and comprehensive manner. Unfortunately, the system at ZD Ljubljana has become almost uncontrollable in recent years due to neglect and now requires fundamental reorganization. According to Dr. Bregant, the management of ZD Ljubljana has reached a point where solutions are even more complex and difficult to achieve. It is unacceptable that the management of the institution received awards for work success during periods of massive staff turnover and systemic collapse. The situation in ZD Ljubljana is not solely the responsibility of the former director, but also the Board of Directors of ZD Ljubljana, where five members are appointed by the founder, namely the Municipality of Ljubljana. Mayor Zoran Janković, who has consistently defended and shielded this kind of leadership while ignoring calls for accountability, has thus taken on the responsibility for the operations and work of the director himself. Dr. Bregant pointed out that the current data on the website of ZD Ljubljana further illustrate the poor state of affairs, noting that there is still no free pediatrician available for preschool children to define new patients. Young families with infants are forced to seek pediatricians outside their city, which, combined with the lack of available housing for young people, clearly indicates that the capital is no longer a friendly environment for young families. In light of upcoming local elections, one cannot help but feel that expectations are being set for a change in the current situation.