Republika Srpska health insurance service expansion

The Health Insurance Fund of Republika Srpska has announced plans to expand its coverage by introducing 75 new medical services next year. These additions span multiple fields, including cardiology, cardiac surgery, laboratory diagnostics, and interventional radiology, with the intent to improve healthcare accessibility and reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside the entity.

To manage these services, the Fund intends to monitor waiting lists more closely and enforce quality standards through institutional contracts.

Additionally, the Fund has clarified the protocols for financing medical treatment outside of Republika Srpska when necessary services cannot be provided domestically. This process involves a proposal from the University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska and approval by a professional commission. Financing is typically provided to contracted institutions, such as those in Serbia. While most insured individuals in Serbia pay a participation fee, certain exempt groups—including children under 18, individuals over 65, war invalids, low-income pensioners, and patients with malignant diseases—receive full coverage. If treatment options in Serbia are exhausted, the Fund may finance treatment in other foreign countries via direct payment to the medical institution.