Pensioners in FBiH losing right to free spa treatment

Pensioners in the Federation will have to wait a while longer for the stabilization of the pension fund and more regular income. The payment of pensions for July began on August 5. But from the Union of Pensioners' Associations of FBiH, they do not expect all pensions to be distributed even by the end of next week.

For about 406,000 pensioners, the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute (PIO) had to provide 162 million KM in July. The Union explains to Patria that the distribution of July pensions could last until August 20 at the earliest.

A loan of 63 million KM, which the PIO Institute planned to take from commercial banks, is currently on hold. Inter-party conflicts between SDA and HDZ have slowed down the approval of this loan. Experts warn that a loan is not a solution for PIO, but it could serve to stabilize the situation in PIO at least for a moment, until a permanent solution is found.

The most vulnerable pensioners from the FBiH region will most likely also lose their free spa treatment. Previously, the Union of Pensioners' Associations had an agreement with several spas in the FBiH. The most vulnerable pensioners had the right to treatment in them, if their doctor determined that rehabilitation was necessary. The PIO Institute allocated about 350,000 KM annually for this. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy requested the termination of this agreement. The ministry claims that there is no legal basis for these benefits for pensioners.

The president of the Union of Pensioners' Associations of FBiH, Mehmedalija Rapa, confirmed to Patria that pensioners could lose their right to rehabilitation in spas, writes Patria.