Health insurance for students in cases of work-related injuries and occupational diseases during practical training was the central topic of a two-day expert gathering that brought together representatives of relevant institutions – line ministries, health insurance funds, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Tax Administration of the Federation of BiH, as well as international partners.
Through presentations, analyses, discussions, and group work, participants identified key challenges, exchanged practical experiences, and defined concrete proposals for improving the system. Special emphasis was placed on the need to amend the legal framework, since the existing laws do not clearly recognize the specific risks students face while undergoing practical training in real work environments.
The expert gathering was organized by the Federal Ministry of Health, in cooperation with GIZ and the Intercantonal Focus Group for Improving Secondary Vocational Education, within the framework of the Sustainable Economic Development and Promotion of Employment Program (SEDEP) in BiH. The component Strengthening Secondary Vocational Education and Training in BiH is co-financed by the Government of Germany and the Government of Switzerland and implemented by GIZ.
The Federal Ministry of Health is actively working on reforming health insurance legislation with the aim of establishing a fair, sustainable, and functional system that will respond to the real needs of citizens. Participants of the event agreed that systemic and sustainable protection of students during practical training requires cross-sectoral cooperation and concrete action, representing an important step towards higher quality and safer vocational education in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
