Project and Technical Documentation for Reconstruction of Psychiatric Clinics Handed Over

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare of the Republika Srpska, Alen Seranic, received today in his office the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to BiH, H.E. Martin Kačo, and UNDP Resident Representative in BiH Steliana Nedera at an official handover of documentation for reconstruction, construction and equipment of the four mental health hospitals in the Republika Srpska, following completion of the activities.

Development of the project and technical documentation with the bill of quantities, including proposal for the documentation for public procurement of works, goods and services, was one of the main activities which marked the completion of the preparatory phase in the overall implementation of the project for reconstruction, construction and equipment of the four mental health hospitals in the Republika Srpska.

This phase of the project was completed thanks to cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), within the Technical Assistance Grant funded by the Slovak Inclusive Growth Account (SIGA) of the Slovak Republic. Within the preparatory activities, the project and technical documentation including a proposed plan for procurement of furniture and equipment for the mental health facilities was handed over today to the mental health hospitals.

 “Slovakia is strongly committed to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, which is in close synergy with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process. It is important that we act together in the right direction, and this is the reason why we have implemented this project through the Slovak Inclusive Growth Account (SIGA) mechanism, in partnership with UNDP and the Council of Europe Development Bank”, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Martin Kačo, said.

“Today, we are marking an important stride in the long-term improvement of quality of healthcare for particularly sensitive groups of population. Access to new sources of funding is key for ensuring investments which are necessary for sustainable development of the whole society. We are proud of partnership with domestic and international institutions. We are thankful to Slovakia for its funding provided through the Slovak Inclusive Growth Account (SIGA). UNDP’s global partnership with the Council of Europe Development Bank is based on our joint priorities in the areas of social inclusion, energy efficiency and the environmental protection”, Steliana Nedera, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in BiH, said.  

“This is an extremely important project with which we are trying, in cooperation with UNDP, the Council of Europe Development Bank, and with Slovak support, to improve also this segment of treatment and healthcare of patients and beneficiaries. It adds to our pleasure of having the project documentation, taking into consideration the fact that it is related to the four very demanding facilities and that we did not back down from completion of the preparatory phase during the pandemic. I am sure that the conditions for work of healthcare staff, accommodation and healthcare, once we have finished all activities, will be significantly improved”, Minister Seranic said during the meeting.  

The project covers: the Public Health Institution Psychiatric Clinic of the University Clinical Centre of the Republika Srpska, the Public Health Institution Special Psychiatric Hospital Sokolac, the Public Health Institution Special Hospital for Chronic Psychiatric Care, Modriča, and the Public Institution Residential Home for Persons with Disabilities, Višegrad.

The current capacities of those institutions require reconstruction of damaged or temporary infrastructure, modernization in accordance with the state-of-the-art standards (architectural and functional) as well as introduction of new healthcare technologies in order to enhance quality and efficiency of services. The project will be implemented with the Council of Europe Development Bank loan.