Population in FBiH Dies from Heart Disease and Cancer

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - At today's session of the FBiH Government, the report of the FBiH Institute of Public Health on the health status of the population and healthcare in the Federation of BiH for 2018 was adopted, which will be submitted to the Parliament of the Federation of BiH for consideration and approval.

The report, through seven chapters, contains an analysis of data and indicators on the health status and healthcare by cantons, from which certain conclusions and recommendations emerge. This assessment is necessary for defining priorities, planning and adopting special programs for the implementation of healthcare, as well as necessary measures according to the Law on Healthcare.

The report stated that the health status indicators of the population of the Federation of BiH are unfavorable, which is related to the poor socio-economic situation in the country, lifestyle habits, housing conditions, workplace conditions, environmental factors, and many others. The presence of risk factors for the population's health is significant: tobacco consumption (44.1 percent of adults) and alcohol (28.8 percent of adults), unhealthy diet (21.2 percent of adults are obese), physical inactivity (75.4 percent), stress, etc.

The population of the Federation of BiH most often suffers from non-communicable diseases, while the incidence of infectious diseases and injuries is significantly lower. In this regard, the leading causes of death for the population of the Federation of BiH are from the group of non-communicable diseases, with every second inhabitant dying from cardiovascular diseases, and every fifth from malignant neoplasms.

Although the reform of the healthcare system in the Federation of BiH is based on strengthening primary healthcare, differences in its availability across cantons still exist. The introduction of family medicine, as the basis of healthcare organization reform, is still at an unsatisfactory level. The reasons for this include a shortage of medical doctors, employee turnover, a slow process of reorganizing services within health centers, unstimulating payment mechanisms, a lack of managerial skills, and others, and in recent years, the migration of healthcare workers to other countries.

The Federation of BiH has a smaller number of hospital beds compared to neighboring countries and the European region average, but there is insufficient utilization of hospital capacities, which indicates the need for their rationalization.

The report also stated that the lack of data from the private sector prevents a complete insight into the health status of the population and the organization of healthcare in the Federation of BiH.