The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, held a meeting with the Minister of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, to discuss further strengthening cooperation between the two countries in healthcare, the exchange of medical knowledge and experience, and opportunities for joint activities in the field of modern healthcare technologies.
During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their interest in further developing healthcare cooperation, with an emphasis on making more effective use of the existing institutional framework and strengthening links between healthcare institutions and professionals in the two countries.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is particularly interested in the professional development of physicians and other healthcare workers, the exchange of medical experts, establishing partnerships between hospitals and research institutions, and transferring knowledge and experience in the application of modern diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
In this context, the experience of the Republic of Türkiye in developing digital healthcare, artificial intelligence, genomic medicine and other advanced medical technologies offers significant opportunities.
Minister Bošnjak emphasized the importance of international cooperation in strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina's healthcare capacities, particularly in highly specialized areas of medicine that require continuous investment in professional staff, knowledge and technology.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Türkiye have a long-standing partnership in healthcare, based on a bilateral agreement. During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to intensify the work of the joint working group, which is expected to consider opportunities for further developing cooperation and translating joint initiatives into concrete activities in the coming period.
The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the 12th Turkish Medical World Congress, organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Health Institutes (TÜSEB), under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye.
The Congress brought together ministers, scientists, physicians and representatives of healthcare institutions from various countries. Discussions focused on developing resilient healthcare systems, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital healthcare and medical innovation.
Addressing the Congress participants, Minister Bošnjak emphasized that rapid advances in medicine are creating new opportunities for diagnosis and treatment, but that the key question remains whether these advances are genuinely accessible to patients.
“For a patient waiting for a diagnosis or treatment, the difference between what modern medicine can offer and what is actually available to them is crucial. Technology alone is not enough to improve healthcare. We need trained professionals, sound decisions and institutions that work well together. That is precisely why we see international cooperation as an opportunity to strengthen our healthcare capacities and create better conditions for patient care,” Minister Bošnjak stated.