Press statement | 07.04.2021

World Health Day

On the occasion of marking April 7, the Ombudsmen for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prof. Dr Ljubinko Mitrović, Dr. Jasminka Džumhur and Mrs. Nives Jukić, point out that World Health Day is celebrated every year under the auspices of the World Health Organization. This year's theme of World Health Day was accompanied by the slogan "Building a fairer, healthier world".

The purpose of marking World Health Day is to build awareness of the importance of health and draw attention to topics that are a priority concern of the World Health Organization. The celebration of World Health Day in the circumstances of the global pandemic COVID-19 pays special attention to access to health care and inequality in the delivery of health services. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, existing inequalities in health are emerging, both globally and locally. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that COVID -19 hit all countries hard, but its impact was sharpest on those communities that were already vulnerable, more exposed to disease, less likely to have access to quality health services, and more likely to have negative consequences as a result of pandemic control measures implemented.

The Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina point out that the provision of health services and health care in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID - 19 pandemic is a particular challenge. In addition to the fact that the competent authorities issue measures and recommendations in order to prevent the spread of the virus, the quality of health care, as well as the availability of services is hampered and conditioned by the measures implemented by the competent health institutions. Independently of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ombudsperson Institution considered complaints regarding access to health care, problems related to reimbursement of medical expenses abroad, and other health insurance rights. Especially during March and April, when there were general prohibition measures, citizens sought help for adequate treatment. In 2020, the Department registered 68 cases in the field of health care.

In connection with the above, it is important to point out that the Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina appreciate and support the efforts of health workers who face enormous difficulties and challenges, which are further complicated by the economic and political problems of BiH society.

The Ombudsmen once again call on all levels of government to take measures in accordance with their competencies in order to promptly procure vaccines necessary for immunization, especially of vulnerable categories of the population.

On this occasion, the Ombudsmen especially want to point out the importance of health care, which must be organized in such a way as to provide protection to the citizen in the most efficient way. In exercising the right to health care, states are obliged to make available technologies (medicines, equipment and interventions), including immunization. With regard to vaccination, the Ombudsmen believe that the focus must be on the right of every individual to health care, but also on the right of others with whom he is in contact.

The Ombudsmen recall that any failure of the competent authorities to take measures to ensure effective access to health care is a violation of human rights.

In a situation where Bosnia and Herzegovina is lagging behind the region and European countries in terms of the vaccination process, the Ombudsmen believe that it is necessary to take urgent measures that will enable an equal position of the citizens of this country.

It is the responsibility of all authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to make additional efforts and activities to ensure the highest possible standard of health as one of the fundamental rights of every human being, regardless of race, religion, political opinion, economic or social status.

Useful Links

• Cooperation with NGO
• Office Days of the BiH Ombudsman
• Agreements of the Ombudsperson Institution of BiH with other ombudsman institutions
• Covid-19 and the human rights effect
• Freedom of Access to Information
• ​Marrakech Declaration, 12th October 2018
• Operational Strategy of the Institution of Human rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Period 2023 – 2028
• Medium-Term Plan 2024-2026
• Ombudsman Manual for handling discrimination cases
• Guidelines for filling in the complaints in the area of discrimination
• Application before European Court of Human Rights - Instruction
• The life of an application before the European Court of Human Rights
• News Archive

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Ombudsmen of BiH

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