Representatives of the local authorities from Doboj, Derventa, Prnjavor and Teslic signed Memorandums of Understanding for Improvement of Community Nursing Services with the directors of primary health care centers and social welfare center. The tripartite agreements were signed in Doboj as part of the Strengthening Nursing in Bosnia and Herzegovina project supported by the Government of Switzerland.

Alen Seranic, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska, at the signing of the Memorandums of Understanding pointed out that these Memorandums envisage inter-professional cooperation in the area of social welfare and health care, and the local community for the benefit of the most vulnerable population and the patients. Minister Seranic evaluated these Memorandums as an advantage for the future, considering that social welfare centers and primary health care centers ought to collaborate closely and direct their teams towards the common goal in the provision of health and social services.

The World Health Organization estimate is that 15 % of health care lays in the hands of the health care systems in the country, while 85 % in the hands of other sectors. Eldin Fisekovic, Project Manager of the Strengthening Nursing in Bosnia and Herzegovina project said that this Memorandum is important as a future and lasting benefit in provision of community nursing services in patients’ homes where required, instead in primary health care centers.