Investments of 2.5 million KM for new heating system of the Cantonal Hospital in Bihać

Agreements on joint financing for the introduction of a new, more energy-efficient biomass heating system at the Cantonal Hospital Dr. Irfan Ljubijankić in Bihać were signed today by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jakub Skalník, the Prime Minister of Una-Sana Canton, Izudin Saračević, and the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Sezin Sinanoglu, at the United Nations building in Sarajevo, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

For the installation of a new biomass heating plant, including boilers, external pipelines, and a heating control system in all hospital buildings, the Czech Development Agency (CZDA) will invest over 1,520,000 KM. The Government of Una-Sana Canton will invest 1,000,000 KM for the construction of a new facility that will house the heating plant, but this space will also be used for other needs and services, such as a kitchen and laundry. This heating system will enable savings of up to 50% in funds, which can be redirected to further improve services for approximately 300,000 citizens of this canton.

- The two agreements we signed today are a continuation of the successful cooperation between UNDP and CZDA, as well as with the Government of USK. Also, the agreements are the result of a donor conference we organized for the Cantonal Hospital last year - stated Sezin Sinanoglu.

The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jakub Skalník, emphasized that this project is one of the largest they are currently implementing and that it is very useful because it combines three important areas.

- This means that the project will enable the hospital to use the funds saved by the new heating system to provide healthcare services, then the efficiency of energy used for heating will be drastically increased, and thirdly, since biomass will be used as the primary heating fuel, it will also contribute to an environmentally friendly heating method, more acceptable for the environment.

- I hope that this investment will enable better hospital services for all users, and on this occasion, I thank the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the United Nations Development Programme for their assistance - said Izudin Saračević, Prime Minister of Una-Sana Canton.

Since the outbreak of the fire at the Cantonal Hospital in Bihać in 2013 until today, through joint investments and partnership between UNDP, the Government of Una-Sana Canton, and donors, the following have been reconstructed: the hospital roof, main entrance, elevators, joinery on the main building, as well as the transfusion and oncology departments, with a total value of 2.5 million KM.