DWW sent a medical assessment team to Bosnia in 2001. A two pronged approach was deemed necessary, firstly to send physicians to undertake specialised post-graduate training for there Bosnian counterparts and secondly to investigate the needs of returnees. With the help of local Cardiologists in Sarajevo, a tentative plan to upgrade training in interventional Cardiology was begun. DWW also supplied state of the art catheter and electrophysiological equipment to the main teaching hospital.

The needs of the returnees was found to be grave, particularly those returning to Serb controlled Bosnia. Many of those either forcibly or voluntarily returning were elderly, the young refusing to return, knowing the atmosphere would be tense, harassment the norm and the chance of jobs slim. The elderly often therefore returned alone, to find there former houses occupied and with no form of redress to have their land and possessions returned. We found many elderly living in their gardens or garages whilst families continued to occupy their homes. These old people often had chronic medical problems which had not been adequately treated for sometime, any new illnesses meant attending local hospitals were medical staff were unhelpful and demanded extortionate payments before treatment was allowed. Despite these harsh conditions Bosnian medical groups continue to supply humanitarian medical attention to the returnees.

At present no active project is currently being undertaken, though DWW continues to monitor the needs through local medical charities

Total population

4,161,000

GDP per capita (Intl $, 2002)

3,504

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years)

69.0 / 76.0

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2002)

62.3 / 66.4

Child mortality m/f (per 1000)

20 / 15

Adult mortality m/f (per 1000)

190 / 89

Total health expenditure per capita (Intl $, 2002)

322

Total health expenditure as % of GDP (2002)

9.2

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