Health, medicines and local care
Call 124 for an ambulance. For non-urgent care or a medicine supply, contact the pharmacy, receiving department or your insurer’s assistance service. Keep your medicine list and insurance details with you, especially when staying outside a major town.
Before choosing a remote base
FCDO describes medical and dental facilities as limited, particularly outside Sarajevo and major towns. Discuss a remote itinerary with your usual clinician if you have an ongoing condition, are pregnant or need regular treatment. Your insurance should address local care and unexpected medical evacuation.
UK travel advice recommends reviewing vaccines and destination health risks at least eight weeks before departure. Take the itinerary and planned activities to your clinician, who can apply that advice to your health.
Medicines: carry the information as well as the pack
NaTHNaC’s medicines guidance recommends original pharmacy packaging, a prescription copy and a prescriber’s letter using generic names. Carry the medicines needed during travel in hand luggage, with enough for possible delays. Arrange suitable storage and any airline requirements before leaving.
Establish destination and transit requirements for controlled medicines with the responsible authorities before departure. FCDO warns that a UK prescription may not be recognised locally and a local doctor may need to issue one. For a replacement supply, give the medicine’s generic name and prescription to a pharmacist or clinician.
Finding a pharmacy in Sarajevo
For a pharmacy, look for apoteka. JU Apoteke Sarajevo’s on-duty directory lists Marijin Dvor, Maršala Tita 1, +387 33 552 130, and Hitna, Kolodvorska 14, +387 33 716 331, with 0–24 weekday and weekend hours. Find the branch by its address.
Take the generic medicine name, prescription and any allergies or clinician’s instructions. Ask the branch about the supply you need; published hours cannot establish stock. For an urgent medical incident, call ambulance 124 instead of diverting to a pharmacy.
Hospital contacts: ask for the receiving department
A hospital switchboard helps locate a department; it is separate from an ambulance call or booked appointment. For urgent help use the emergency contacts. For non-urgent care, ask the institution or insurer to identify the receiving service and site.
Sarajevo: KCUS, Bolnička 25; published switchboard +387 33 297 000.
Mostar: the emergency unit at Bijeli Brijeg bb, main building side entrance, level 0; published triage contact +387 36 336 102. Kralja Tvrtka is a separate hospital site.
Banja Luka: UKC RS lists Paprikovac, Dvanaest beba bb, and switchboard +387 51 342 100.
Tuzla: UKC Tuzla, Trnovac bb; published switchboard +387 35 303 500, listed 07:30–24:00. Ask the institution about the receiving department before a non-urgent visit.
Insurance, payment and records
According to UK health advice, UK-issued EHICs and GHICs do not cover Bosnia and Herzegovina. If insured elsewhere, establish the arrangements and documents with your health insurer before travel. Save the assistance number, policy details, identification and medicine/allergy list offline. Contact your assistance company promptly when referred for treatment.
For a routine appointment, agree language support, access, the price and payment, including any insurer authorisation. Keep itemised invoices, prescriptions and medical notes for the claim. The insurance and access guides help with the wider arrangements.
A note to take to the appointment
Write the symptoms and when they began, regular medicines with generic names and doses, allergies and any relevant clinician’s instructions. Keep this with identification, prescription copies and the insurance assistance contact. It is useful when pronunciation or translation is difficult.
When arranging a visit, describe any hearing, vision or mobility support you need: written information, an interpreter, the entrance, a lift or a place for a companion. Ask the receiving department what it can provide.
If you are travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina for medical treatment, Health BiH provides medical-tourism coordination and related travel support. Discuss the proposed treatment with the treating clinician and check insurance cover before making travel arrangements.