Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a Balkan gem combining Ottoman heritage, Habsburg architecture, Adriatic mountain scenery, and one of the lowest costs of living in Europe.

Capital: Sarajevo

Region: Europe

Language: Bosnian

Currency: BAM (KM)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 27)

Emergency: 112

Healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina operates a mandatory social health insurance system split between two entities: the Federation of BiH (FBiH) with 10 cantonal health funds, and Republika Srpska (RS) with a single fund. Coverage is universal for employed persons and their dependents. The system provides comprehensive services including GP care, specialist treatment, hospitalisation, maternity care and prescription medicines. Public system quality is adequate for standard care; advanced diagnostics and specialist procedures often involve long waiting times. Most expats use a combination of public enrollment (via employment) and private clinics for better comfort, English-language service and faster access.

Below EU average but improving under EU accession pressure. Private clinics in Sarajevo (Eurofarm, Medicus) offer near-Western European standards at a fraction of the cost. Dental care is particularly affordable and high quality. Brain drain of doctors to Germany, Austria and Slovenia is a chronic systemic challenge.

Public healthcare: Obavezno zdravstveno osiguranje (Mandatory Health Insurance)

Compulsory Health Insurance — FBiH cantonal funds / RS Health Insurance Fund

Eligibility:Mandatory for all employed persons and self-employed registered in BiH. Employer registers the employee with the relevant cantonal health fund (FBiH) or RS fund within 8 days of employment start. Family members (spouse and dependent children) can be co-insured under the employed person. Non-employed foreigners on self-sufficiency temporary residence must arrange private health insurance — the public system is not accessible without employment or a specific registration arrangement.

Monthly cost:Employee contribution: 12.5% of gross salary in FBiH; 12% in RS. Employer additionally pays 4% in FBiH. For self-employed, both shares are payable — approximately KM 150–300/month based on declared income. For non-employed foreigners, private health insurance is required and costs vary: KM 80–350/month depending on age, coverage and provider (Allianz, UNIQA, SafetyWing, Cigna).

What's included:

GP visits at Dom zdravlja (health centre) — nominal co-payment
Specialist consultations with GP referral (uputnica)
Emergency treatment (hitna pomoć) — 24/7, no referral needed
Hospitalisation and inpatient care
Maternity care, prenatal check-ups and childbirth
Prescription medicines on the formulary (co-payment applies)
Preventive services and vaccinations
Paediatric and child health services
Mental health (basic services at Dom zdravlja)
Dental care for children under 18

Not included (or co-pay required):

Dental care for adults (except emergency extractions)
Optical care (glasses, contact lenses)
Cosmetic procedures
Many specialist diagnostics above basic tier (long waiting times)
Physiotherapy beyond limited sessions
Advanced imaging (MRI, CT) often involves multi-week waits in public system
Some oncology drugs not on the formulary
Non-emergency medical evacuation abroad

Co-payments:Co-payments (participacija) apply at each service level: KM 2–10 for GP visits; KM 5–20 for specialist consultations; KM 2–10 per prescription item. Certain categories receive reduced or free co-payments: children under 15, pensioners, chronically ill patients. Co-payments are nominal by European standards — the primary cost is contributions from salary.

How to enrol:Your employer registers you with the relevant cantonal health fund in FBiH (Zavod zdravstvenog osiguranja kanton) or the RS Health Insurance Fund (Fond zdravstvenog osiguranja RS) within 8 days of the employment start date. You receive a health insurance card (karton zdravstvenog osiguranja) enabling access to services. Self-employed individuals register directly with the fund and pay contributions monthly by the 10th of the following month.

Waiting period:No formal waiting period — coverage begins on the date of employment registration with the fund.

Accessing care

GP system

Register with a Dom zdravlja (Health Centre) in your municipality. Choose a family medicine doctor (porodični/izabrani doktor) as your primary care provider — an initial registration visit is required with your health insurance card. GP services: Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00. Walk-in urgent care (Hitna pomoć) is available at 24/7 at emergency centres.

Specialist referral

A GP referral (uputnica) is required for most specialist consultations in the public system. Specialists are accessed at Klinički centri (University Teaching Hospitals) or specialist outpatient centres. Waiting times for non-urgent public specialist appointments: days to months depending on specialty. Private specialists in Sarajevo (Eurofarm, Medicus) can typically be seen within 1–5 days.

Emergency care

Call 124 (ambulance) or go directly to the emergency department (urgentni centar). Main emergency hospital in Sarajevo: Klinički centar KCUS (Urgentni centar, Bolnička 25). Emergency care is provided regardless of insurance status. No referral needed for emergency treatment.

Out of hours

For urgent but non-life-threatening conditions outside GP hours: Hitna poliklinika at the Dom zdravlja network or Urgentni centar KCUS. In Sarajevo, private clinics (Eurofarm, Medicus) operate extended hours including weekends. Call 124 for ambulance dispatch or attend the nearest Urgentni centar directly.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions issued by your registered family doctor or hospital specialist. Collected from pharmacy (apoteka) with your health insurance card. Co-payment applies per item. Medicines not on the formulary must be purchased at full private price. International prescriptions: present to a GP who issues a BiH equivalent. Pharmacies are widely available in cities and open Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00; 24-hour options exist in Sarajevo.

Dental

Public dental care covers children under 18 (free) and emergency extraction for adults. Adult routine dental care is effectively private — but is extremely affordable. Private dentistry: cleaning KM 60–120; filling KM 50–120; implant KM 800–1,500. BiH has a growing dental tourism sector serving EU visitors. Quality in Sarajevo private clinics is good.

Mental health

Basic mental health services through Dom zdravlja (community health centres). Psychiatry at Klinika za psihijatriju KCUS in Sarajevo. Waiting times for public psychology: 2 weeks to 3 months for non-urgent appointments. Private therapy: KM 60–120/hour with growing English-speaking therapist availability. Online platforms (BetterHelp, Talkspace) are practical for English-speaking expats.

Maternity

Comprehensive maternity care is covered by the public system: prenatal check-ups, delivery, postpartum care. Main maternity hospital in Sarajevo: Klinika za ginekologiju i akušerstvo KCUS. Private maternity services available at Eurofarm and Medicus — recommended for English communication and greater comfort. Midwife services are not as developed as in Western Europe.

Expat-specific advice

First steps on arrival:

If employed: confirm your employer has registered you with the cantonal health fund and obtain your health insurance card (karton zdravstvenog osiguranja).
Register with a GP at your local Dom zdravlja within your first month — required for referrals and prescriptions.
If not employed: arrange private international health insurance before arrival — public system is not accessible without employment registration.
Locate the nearest pharmacy (apoteka) and 24-hour emergency pharmacy in your district.
Save emergency number 124 (ambulance) and the nearest Urgentni centar address.
Research private clinics in Sarajevo: Eurofarm Centre (eurofarm.ba) and Medicus are recommended for expat-quality care with English-speaking staff.

Finding English-speaking doctors:English-speaking doctors available at private clinics in Sarajevo: Eurofarm Centre, Medicus, Intermedic. Staff at KCUS University Hospital may have limited English — use a translation app or bilingual companion for public hospital visits. International organisations (UN, EUFOR, OSCE) often have their own medical officers. The Expats in Sarajevo Facebook group maintains current recommendations for English-speaking practitioners.

Emergency card info:Carry a bilingual emergency card (English/Bosnian) with your name, blood type, known allergies, chronic conditions, emergency contacts and insurance policy details. In an emergency at a public hospital, medical staff may have limited English — the card bridges the language gap significantly.

Pharmacies (Apoteka)

Hours:Standard: Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00; Sat 08:00–15:00. 24-hour pharmacies available in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar — search "apoteka dežurna" online or ask your Dom zdravlja.

After-hours / emergency:24-hour pharmacies in Sarajevo include Apoteka Klinički centar (at the KCUS complex) and Euro-Apoteke locations. Call ahead to confirm current night duty rotation. Night-duty pharmacies (dežurna apoteka) rotate on a schedule — check the list posted at every pharmacy entrance.

Prescription rules:Prescription medicines (recept) require a valid prescription from a BiH-registered doctor. EU/international prescriptions are not directly accepted — need conversion by a local GP. No automatic refills — new prescription required for each course. Narcotics and controlled substances require special prescription forms. OTC medicines are widely available without prescription.

Available over-the-counter:

Ibuprofen / Brufen (200mg–400mg)
Paracetamol / Febricet
Antihistamines (Claritin, Zyrtec)
Antacids and stomach remedies
Oral rehydration salts
Cold and flu remedies
Basic wound care and antiseptics
Nicotine replacement therapy
Vitamin D and common supplements

Typical costs

GP visit (with insurance)	KM 2–10 co-payment (with health card)
GP visit (private pay)	KM 40–100 (private clinic consultation)
Specialist visit	KM 5–20 co-pay (public, with referral) / KM 60–150 (private clinic)
Emergency visit	Covered by insurance (nominal co-pay); KM 100–300 without insurance
MRI scan	KM 150–350 (private); several weeks wait in public system
Prescription average	KM 2–10 co-pay per item (insured); full price varies (private)
Dental check-up	Free for children under 18; KM 60–120 for private adult cleaning
Baby delivery	Covered by insurance; KM 1,000–3,000+ for private maternity

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