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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Medical profession, science key in fight against coronavirus

Belgrade, 26 March 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic expressed hope that the First World Conference Fighting COVID-19 Pandemic Health Challenges, which opened today in Belgrade, will contribute to the global fight for every human life, but also for better quality life and health protection of every person.

Brnabic pointed out that this three-day gathering is a confirmation of the results of the work of the government, the Ministry of Health and health institutions in Serbia, as well as the important role of our country in exchanging knowledge and experience in medicine, strengthening the profession and science.

The Prime Minister assessed that it is a great honour that Serbia is the host and organiser of the conference that gathers eminent experts in medicine from all over the world, and stated that there will be approximately 1,000 participants and more than 300 lecturers at the conference, who will discuss more than 50 topics.

Brnabic stated that the coronavirus has radically changed our everyday life, habits and attitude towards basic values, as well as that the medical profession and science have a key role in the fight against the coronavirus.

Just over two years ago, virtually the entire world faced a great challenge that had not been seen for more than 100 years. Even the largest and most developed countries, leaders in economic development, in new technologies and innovations, were stopped and almost closed, the Prime Minister reminded.

She said that the coronavirus pandemic has focused on what is most important, and that is the life and health of every human being.

Brnabic reminded that doctors, nurses and technicians and all people working in the health system were on the front lines of the fight against covid, emphasizing that their knowledge, persistence and perseverance in the fight for every human life were the strongest weapons in the fight against COVID-19.

She expressed gratitude for the immense work and dedication, energy and strength in the fight for every patient, and said that the obligation and responsibility of every state and every government in the most difficult days of the fight against COVID-19 was to support doctors, nurses and technicians and all employees in the health system, so that they can successfully fight for the life and health of all citizens.

The Prime Minister emphasised that a strong and stable health system enables health workers to do their job in the best way, and added that it is the obligation and responsibility of the state to support scientists working on the development of vaccines and drugs that are key to maintaining health.

She reminded that at the beginning of the pandemic, an information system was created that enabled fast, efficient and precise recording of the testing process, that testing capacities were increased and two large laboratories were opened in Belgrade and Nis and 10 in public health institutes across Serbia.

Brnabic stated that during the pandemic, three completely new covid hospitals were built and equipped in Serbia – in Belgrade, Krusevac and Novi Sad, and pointed out that Serbia was among the first countries in the world to procure vaccines from five different manufacturers.

We have shown responsibility and solidarity with our neighbours, but also with the countries of Asia and Africa to which we donated vaccines, she said, adding that Serbia has also started production of Sputnik V vaccines at the Torlak Institute and construction of a new vaccine factory.

Brnabic emphasised that investments in health care are continuing, stating that after the Clinical Centre in Nis, the first ever completed clinical centre in Serbia, the first phase of the construction of the Clinical Centre Belgrade was recently completed.

According to her, the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina in Novi Sad is being worked on and documentation is being prepared for the Clinical Centre Kragujevac, the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases Dedinje 2 has been opened, and the construction of the children's clinic Tirsova 2 is underway.

The Prime Minister stated that in parallel with these investments, we are working on the digitalisation of the health system in order to be as connected, efficient and high-quality as possible.

The e-Health portal and application enable citizens to access health records and schedule appointments with the chosen doctor. "We will continue to work on improving this system, whose goal is to keep citizens in focus, to enable them faster, easier and more efficient access to all health services," Brnabic said.

She pointed out that Serbia is taking a step forward in technological progress and technological revolution, which essentially change the approach to the health and quality of life of citizens, but also represent an opportunity for further economic development of the country.

For that reason, as she stated, Serbia has started the formation of the BIO4 campus as a unique place that will be a centre for the development of biomedicine, bioinformatics, biotechnology and biodiversity.

Brnabic pointed out that artificial intelligence and bioeconomy will be in the focus of the newly formed Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum in Belgrade.