Bosnia and Herzegovina at Eurotransplant's Annual Assembly for the First Time

The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, along with her team, is attending the annual meeting of Eurotransplant, taking place on 10 and 11 October  in Wassenaar/The Hague, Netherlands. This prestigious gathering, which marks the first participation of a delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina, brings together representatives from eight Eurotransplant member countries, as well as leading experts in the field of transplant medicine, aimed at enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange regarding organ transplantation.

At the annual assembly, Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially introduced as a new potential member of Eurotransplant. Representatives from the Ministry of Civil Affairs presented the current state of affairs in this area, as well as plans and activities to be undertaken in the near future to develop transplant medicine and achieve full membership.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina is actively working towards joining Eurotransplant. After several years of stagnation, it submitted a letter of intent for membership at the beginning of the year, with the approval of relevant health authorities, marking the first concrete step in the process of new member countries joining this extremely important network.

Additionally, Minister Dubravka Bošnjak held a meeting with the new leadership of Eurotransplant, including the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Prof. Dr. Dirk van Raemdonck, the Chairman of the Assembly, Prof. Dr. Andreas Zuckermann, the Director General, Andrea Matera, and the Medical Director, Dr. Erwin de Buijzer.

During the meeting, they discussed the next steps that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to take, as well as opportunities for bilateral cooperation with member countries before achieving full membership. The leadership of Eurotransplant welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress in this field and expressed readiness to intensify cooperation and knowledge exchange.

It is worth noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted a letter of intent for membership in Eurotransplant at the beginning of the year, and in July 2024, Minister Dubravka Bošnjak met with the then leadership of Eurotransplant in Leiden to discuss possibilities for cooperation and joining. Through this network, Bosnia and Herzegovina would ensure better access to donors and expedite the transplantation process, thereby increasing the chances of saving lives for patients waiting for vital organs. Furthermore, membership would enable better collaboration in the exchange of expertise and technology.

According to Eurotransplant's annual report for 2023, thanks to the network's efforts, 6,815 organs were donated and transplanted, saving the lives of 6,008 individuals. By connecting donors with recipients in the best possible way, Eurotransplant aims to optimize the use of available donor organs. Last year, Eurotransplant facilitated the distribution of 3,161 kidneys, 645 hearts, 1,253 lungs, 1,628 livers, 124 pancreases, and 4 intestines. Cooperation among countries increases the chances for critically ill patients. Additionally, mutual solidarity allows for assistance to special groups, such as children and patients with rare blood types or tissue types.