In-country activities
Bosnia and Herzegovina sharing experience in health reform with Albania, Kirgizstan and Moldova
Ana Sredic, Communications and Gender Officer
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) shares many similarities with Albania, Moldova and Kirgizstan – all being transition countries that are undergoing transformation in the political, economic and social spheres over the last two and half decades.
The transition has affected the lives of populations in these countries in many ways. In spite of improvements in health, their health attainments, access and financial protection within the national health systems lag significantly behind those in the Western and Northern Europe. Health and social protection systems struggle to adapt to the rapid epidemiological and demographic changes. Ongoing reforms aim at strengthening primary health care centered on family medicine to enhance health system performance and address growing health challenges – non-communicable diseases, unhealthy lifestyle choices, an ageing population, mental health problems, and increased inequalities. In such contexts, the role of nurses and midwives is seen as particularly important in ensuring the continuity of care and addressing people’s rights and changing health needs.
The Swiss Government has been supporting healthcare reform in BiH since 2001. The focus of the support is on access to quality primary health care and in particular to family medicine, mental healthcare and nursing services. A local NGO, Fami Foundation, together with the University Hospitals of Geneva, implemented SDC-funded Family Medicine Implementation Project in BIH (2001-2011) and is currently implementing the Strengthening Nursing in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project – ProSes (2012-2021).
In May and June 2018 Fami Foundation shared its experiences with Albanian Health for All Project, Kyrgyz Medical Education Reforms Project and Moldovan Healthy Life Project, all supported by SDC. The study visits of the Albanian and Kyrgyz delegations to BiH gave opportunity to Fami Foundation to share its extensive experience in the introduction of family medicine – structure, content, challenges and learning process; nursing education, organization and services; regulations, recognition, the role of the professional associations and continuous professional development. The delegations also met representatives of the ministries of health, nursing faculties, health insurance fund, nursing association, health accreditation agencies, public health institute, primary healthcare centers, etc.
Furthermore, a member of Fami Foundation ProSes team participated in the work of the Community Nursing Working Group in Moldova and presented advantages and limitations of the two existing BiH models for community nursing services provision – within family medicine teams and by separate patronage nurse teams. Experiences and evidence from BiH will be used by Moldovan colleagues in planning their interventions for community nursing.
These visits have been an exquisite opportunity for exchange between the professionals from different countries and cultures, enabling mutual learning and expanding personal and professional networks.
Related links:
Contacts:
Ines Katic-Vrdoljak, Project Manager, Strengthening Nursing in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project | ines@fondacijafami.org
Maja Zaric, Senior Programme Officer and Advisor on Cooperation Policy, Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina | maja.zaric@eda.admin.ch
