Ministers Bošnjak and Hrstić in Zagreb: Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Strengthen Cooperation in Transplant Medicine

Dubravka Bošnjak, Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Irena Hrstić, Minister of Health of the Republic of Croatia, held a meeting today in Zagreb dedicated to enhancing cooperation in the field of health, with a particular focus on transplant medicine and organ donation.

The meeting took place in an exceptionally constructive atmosphere, reaffirming the strong partnership and friendly relations between the two neighboring countries. Opportunities for signing a bilateral agreement in the field of health were discussed, with an emphasis on facilitating cooperation between transplant centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia. Special attention was given to the development of an organ donation network, strengthening professional capacities, and Bosnia and Herzegovina's process of joining Eurotransplant.

Minister Bošnjak emphasized the importance of direct cooperation between professional bodies and healthcare institutions of the two countries and expressed gratitude to the Republic of Croatia for its long-standing support to the healthcare system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in strengthening the capacity of the health sector.

During the meeting, the formal exchange of a draft agreement was agreed upon, along with, if necessary, the establishment of expert working groups to elaborate the technical and operational aspects of the future agreement and identify concrete models of cooperation in the field of health.

This is particularly important in the context of bilateral agreements that Bosnia and Herzegovina plans to establish with Eurotransplant, specifically between national transplant centres, with the goal of advancing transplant medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Minister Hrstić emphasized that Croatia, as a member of Eurotransplant and a country that has long been a global leader in transplantation, is eager to share its experience and resources:

“Our country has, over the years, developed a respected organ donation and transplantation system, which serves as a model of good practice in the region. We are ready to support Bosnia and Herzegovina by sharing knowledge and experience — from donor system organization and training to operational protocols,” said Minister Hrstić.

Additionally, during the meeting, gratitude was expressed to the Republic of Croatia and its Ministry of Health for their support in strengthening the healthcare system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One recent example is the financial assistance provided to enhance the capacity of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, amounting to 10.3 million euros.