The cost of illness does not end with a medical bill; it manifests in days lost from work, reduced productivity, and the strain placed on families, healthcare funds, and employers—as well as in the loss of individuals from the labor market prematurely due to illness. Therefore, the question of how much we invest in healthcare is not merely a matter of health policy; it is also a question of economic development.
This link between population health, the sustainability of the system, and the economy was the focus of the first panel at the AmCham BiH conference, "Healthcare as an Investment."
The discussion, moderated by Gordan Tahirović, featured Inga Marijanović, MD, Head of the Oncology Clinic at SKB Mostar; Lejla Ibranović-Mulahasanović, Director of Operations at ZIRA Group; and Dr. Slaveyko Djambazov, founder and CEO of HTA Ltd.
Prevention changes both the health and economic calculus.
A key takeaway from the panel was that investment in healthcare should not be viewed solely in terms of the amount the system spends, but rather in terms of what can be prevented through such investment. The panelists pointed out that more than 40 percent of diseases are preventable. This places prevention, early disease detection, and public education in an entirely different context.
If a disease is identified early—or prevented from developing altogether—the benefits extend beyond the patient. The need for complex treatments decreases, as does the strain on healthcare capacity and the long-term costs to the system.
In the case of malignant and other serious illnesses, this difference can be particularly significant.
Consequently, investing in prevention is about more than just allocating additional funds today. It entails reducing the health and economic consequences that society would otherwise have to pay for years later.
A healthier population means a stronger economy
The healthcare system is often viewed as a major public expense. The panel offered a different perspective: the health of the population is a prerequisite for a productive economy.
People who remain healthy for longer stay active in the labor market for longer, experience fewer work interruptions, and can make a continuous contribution to the companies and communities in which they live. Therefore, investment in healthcare has an impact that extends far beyond healthcare facilities. It influences productivity, the availability of the workforce, and the economy's long-term capacity for growth.
In a country facing limited human resources, the issue of population health becomes even more critical.
Technology and data have value only if they improve outcomes
Developing a healthcare system today involves making better use of data, technology, and the assessment of the value of healthcare interventions.
However, digitalization, new therapies, and new financing models are not ends in themselves.
They derive their value when they facilitate earlier diagnosis, better decision-making, improved access to treatment, or better outcomes for the patient.
Consequently, the discussion around investment must shift from the simple question, "How much does it cost?" to, "What do the patient and the healthcare system gain in return?"
The patient remains the ultimate benchmark
Whether the discussion concerns prevention, technology, financing, or productivity, the key takeaways from the first panel brought the conversation back to the same point: the well-being of the patient. A healthcare system does not exist merely to provide a certain number of services. Its success should be measured by whether people live longer and enjoy a better quality of life, whether diseases are detected earlier, and whether patients receive the treatment they need.
In this sense, investing in healthcare is not at odds with economic rationality. On the contrary, the earlier we invest in people's health, the more likely it is that we will pay less later for the consequences of illness.
Moreover, a society in which people remain healthy for longer gains more than just a better healthcare system; it also gains a stronger workforce, higher productivity, and a more stable foundation for long-term economic development.
