A highlight of the visit was the delegation’s exploration of Slovenia’s recently established WHO Collaborating Centre on Primary Health Care, in Ljubljana. This centre focuses on integrating health services with a strong emphasis on primary care and public health. Its approach –implemented through Centres for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention – is closely aligned with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ongoing efforts to establish similar centres, a key objective of the future strategic roadmap for primary health care (PHC) improvement in both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
During the visit, the delegation engaged with senior informants in several key institutions, including community health centres in Ljubljana and Domžale, the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, the National Institute of Public Health, the Community Health Centre for Mental Health, the Family Medicine Department at the Faculty of Medicine (University of Ljubljana) and the National Association of Nurses and Midwives. These interactions provided valuable insights into the practical implementation of Slovenia’s PHC model at various levels of care.
Discussions covered essential aspects of PHC organization, including the roles of general practitioners and nurses, the referral system to and from secondary and tertiary care, collaboration between various disciplines and with specialists, the linkages with school health programmes, and the integration of home nursing services. Participants also learned about Slovenia’s preventive health programmes, the availability of 24/7 primary care services and health-care digitization (including the Central Registry of Patient Data and the adoption of eHealth solutions).
This study visit marked a significant step in the development of strategic roadmaps for PHC improvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It reinforces the country’s commitment to strengthening PHC systems for better health outcomes.
Event notice
17–21 March 2025
A delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in a study visit to Slovenia as part of the European Union-funded project “Support to the Health Sector Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Realizing the Potential of Primary Health Care-Driven Health Systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The initiative is implemented by WHO in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The visit aims to provide key stakeholders – including representatives from the Ministry of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska, and the Department of Health and Other Services of Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina – with direct insights into Slovenia’s primary health care system. The delegation is welcomed by Slovenia’s Iztok Kos, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, and Dr Kerstin Vesna Petrič, Head of the Office for Cooperation with WHO.