As part of the visit of the Eurotransplant BiH delegation, an expert session was held in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, attended by numerous representatives of health institutions from all over the country.
The process of joining Eurotransplant, necessary improvements and ways to speed up the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into this prestigious European network for organ transplantation were discussed.
An example of a successful transplant outcome was presented by patient Adnan Fazlagić, who after a long struggle received a new heart and a second chance at life. “When a person gets sick, his life changes 180 degrees, he is almost incapable of life, speech, movement, any effort. However, when he is transplanted, all life functions return. When I woke up, I looked at my fingers and took a few breaths, as if I dreamed that I was sick and then woke up,” said Fazlagić.
The Association of Dialysis and Transplant Patients warns of the need to improve conditions. The lack of medicines at the expense of the Federal Solidarity Fund reduces the number of transplants, which was reduced to a minimum this year. “Dialysis patients go through various problems, from transportation and nutrition to the lack of the most important medicines. Associations cannot do everything alone, the support of institutions is also needed,” said Tomislav Žuljević, president of the Association of Dialysis and Transplant Patients in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the past year, Bosnia and Herzegovina made a significant step towards joining Eurotransplant. The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina sent a letter of intent to Eurotransplant, which restarted the accession process after almost 14 years of stagnation. Minister Dubravka Bošnjak emphasized that the goal is to develop transplant medicine and make the culture of donating life part of the national identity. Dirk Van Raemdonck, thoracic surgeon and chairman of the supervisory board of Eurotransplant, said that their mission is to help BiH in building programs related to transplantation and organ allocation within the network.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to actively coordinate activities in the process of joining the donor network, providing full professional, organizational and institutional support to the competent health authorities, in order for Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a full member of Eurotransplant. BHRT.
