The doctor of Rijeka wants to be the mayor: ‘I have removed 100 pounds. Here’s why I got into politics’
Cardiologist Alen Ruzic The current Director of KBC Rijeka, HDZ’s candidate for the Mayor of Primorje-Gorski Kotar, who has embarked on a fight for a function held in that county for over twenty years held by SDP’s Zlatko Komadina, one of the longest-running mayors in Croatia. With six consecutive terms at the head of the county, Komadina withdrew, and instead of him, the SDP set an entrepreneur Ivica Lukanovic as a candidate, who won about seven thousand votes more than HDZ challenger Alen Ruzic in the first round of the election.
It is an unusual fact that the director of one of the greatest hospitals in Croatia ran for the mayor, and Dr. Ruzic gave an interview for 24 Hours in which he revealed to us why he started this fight, given that the county was one of the SDP forts.
– Primorje – Gorski Kotar County is my home. I was born in it, I was educated and I tied my whole professional career to this county and the City of Rijeka. From the beginning of my career, the doctor first had care about people and the community, and in the broadest sense, I always worked with the jobs of a cardiologist to the construction and improvement of the systems in which I operated. After winning the election, I will continue to do so, only in new circumstances. I decided on the candidacy because I believe that our county needs new ideas and new energy. After six consecutive terms of Mayor Zlatko Komadina, to whom I want to thank for everything he has done as a mayor, I think it’s time to change in the county leadership. So far, the management model has been spent and I am convinced that citizens will recognize in me the opportunity to improve the many segments of everyday life that the mayor may influence. I am not interested in any ideological or party divisions, I only wonder how to make life better and better to my fellow citizens – Dr. Ruzic told us.
At the head of KBC Rijeka, he came at the time of Pandemia Covida, stating that he had taken over the hospital between Lock-Down and the first large wave of covid-patient.
– There was a huge challenge such a big system in which you have more than 1000 hospital beds, over 3500 employees and you are the only institution that must provide for three counties for all emergency, life -threatening and seriously ill patients in just all areas of medicine 24 h for 365 days a year. These were sleepless nights dedicated to major organizational adjustments – space, staffing teams, infrastructure such as air and oxygen installations, other equipment, all to cater for all patients who had to provide a favor. This included numerous covid-pacifics from our county, as well as the most severe covid-pacifics from all surrounding regions treated in our central respiratory center, as well as all other acute patients, oncological and others in which delaying processing and treatment could bring negative health effects. Day by day we adjusted the system and achieved optimal results. It was a great experience that I am now personally proud of – says Ruzic.
Rijeka: Prime Minister Plenkovic came to support HDZ candidates |
Considering that he is a doctor, we were also interested in the principal that he was promoted to deal with politics.
– Politics is a challenge to me that it enables the wider action to implement the community of useful development strategies, programs and projects that mean progress, solving some chronic problems and the ultimately achievement of a key goal – a better life for all our fellow citizens. The excellence in the medical work is not a obstacle to me for dedicating some broader topics and activities.
In this way, you have all the predispositions to direct your capacities in the activities that will give wider social benefits. At the same time, as I, as the Vice -Rector of the University of Rijeka and now, as Director of KBC Rijeka, has always found time for my patients, on -call duty and the professional activity of direct helping people, whatever I do, I will continue my legal framework because the medical work for me is part of my life, my commitment and commitment. As Hippocrates’ thought says: « Wherever the art of treatment is loved, there is a humanity at the same time. » The mayor of the mayor will give me a specific possibility for a wider life realization of this humanity – the knowledge of the necessary changes in the system and the knowledge that I have gained by running great projects is my great advantage that personal, emotional commitment and desire I successfully realize for the benefit of our people – says Ruzic.
‘Homes for the elderly and infirm have not been built for almost 60 years’
When asked what he expects in the second round of the election, he adds that he is « not interested in the relationships of others, no quarrels or divisions we witness in other political groups. »
– My focus is solely a better quality of life of the PGZ inhabitants in all segments. Tangible, realistic and concrete changes through responsible and focused guidance. Unfortunately, this kind of management of the county has unfortunately been absent, and the activities have been poorly planned, uncoordinated and inconsistent with concrete results for changing life in the community. That’s why in the second round I expect an even better result and a victory – he says.
He states that the county needs emergency measures to raise the standards and the better functioning of key services from the county ingeniousness, and points out that it is unacceptable ab
– This includes health care – an unacceptable material state of numerous health care homes, staffing problems for which we have concrete proposals and solutions that I have already offered, solutions for the availability of services from the primary protection pool on the « HEALTH ON THE PRAGE » for all parts of the county. Practically all other areas in the county ingenction will be, according to the present state, the subject of intense work as soon as I enter into function.
Homes for the elderly and infirm have not been built for almost 60 years, through extremely poor veterinary services for small animals, to other important segments – states only as an example, I want to point out that we will immediately introduce supplementary health insurance for all pensioners and increasingly over 65 years of age, defined co -financing of the supplement for medicines, and to the implementation of the local, also co -financing lines. The measures I have prepared are numerous and in full aligned with the needs of our citizens. They will mark a new level of quality of life in PGZ, and the strategic system of stimulating economic development in which I will introduce a proven successful model of introduction of knowledge and innovation will be the basis of the jumping momentum of the economy. In my academic work so far, I have been directly involved in the arrival of as many as 44 scientists in the University of Rijeka. I am sure that knowledge will be crucial to the economy and the landscape of our region, to make it definitely attractive to life and turn demographic trends in the long run – said Dr. Ruzic.
During the 5 years of the hospital, there were many major projects and challenges, and as a key success, he cites the construction of a new hospital complex on Sušak, which, he added, was completed within the time limit and within the planned financial frames despite covid and inflation.
Fighting with pounds
– We have permanently targeted to raise key medical equipment according to the objective criteria of needs, and a positive personnel policy with the influx of numerous young experts have given the permanent introduction of new methods and providing health services at the level of leading European university hospitals, which is the highest value for our patients. Of course, there are a number of other projects, capital equipment in oncology – linear accelerators and central preparation of parenteral therapy, new top radiology equipment – CT and magnetic resonance imaging of 3 Tesla (3T), and a series of other equipment, with which we have targeted the reorganization of work, all in the interest of the sick. After taking office, I reversed the negative financial trends of business and in the first four years significantly reduced the accumulated debt of the institution from earlier periods – he says.
In the end, he also referred to a personal battle, which he had led with pounds for many years, removing about 100 pounds.
– From an early age, I had a big problem with excess pounds and it was held until the completion of medical studies and even specializations. All attempts to lose weight were short -lived success. After becoming an internal specialist, I had about 190 kg and it was my stable weight for years. Then I decided to dedicate myself to myself, went to education, applied knowledge to my own problem, and managed to lose weight and with less variations keep body weight in acceptable ranges for over 20 years, to this day. In parallel, I founded the college « Clinical Nutrition and Dietotherapy » at the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka and sought to convey my scientifically based and conveyed to generations of young experts on a personal example. Teaching work and dedication to the progression of young people is one of the things that makes me especially happy and motivate me in my professional work – he concludes.
