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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Activities of media important in disease prevention

Belgrade, 15 March 2006

Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic said today that considering that two thirds of Serbia’s population dies of chronic, non-infective diseases, which can be prevented, this year will be marked with intensified activities on their prevention.

Author: Tanjug

At a working breakfast with journalists, held on the occasion of presenting results of the survey themed, "The best way to communicate with the media in Serbia in order to promote disease prevention", Milosavljevic said that communication between journalists and representatives of the Ministry is better than ever. He added that he will arrange an opinion poll to see how satisfied his colleagues are with journalists, and will report the results next week.

The survey, in which 200 journalists from 50 media houses throughout Serbia participated, was conducted within the project of the Ministry of Health “Improvement of preventive health services in Serbia”, which is being financed by the European Union, and managed by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR).

Representative of the agency “Argument” which conducted the survey Snezana Hristovski said that from the total number of journalists questioned two thirds think that reporting on disease prevention should be improved.

She explained that journalists who were questioned think that prevention implies, above all, regular medical checkups, secondly educating the public on correct eating habits and a healthy life style, and thirdly activities of specialised advisory services in health centers.

Head of the project, “Improvement of preventive health services in Serbia” Brian Potter said that the EAR will continue to support the Ministry of Health in its efforts to shift the focus of activities and financing from treatment to disease prevention.

Representative of the EAR Matthias Reinicke said that the agency will secure funds so that the Ministry can introduce “electronic health” as one of the new activities, which also includes sending SMS messages for certain information connected with health and disease prevention.

According to Reinicke, a long-term campaign is being prepared in connection with that, and it is possible that the sending of SMS messages to citizens will begin by the end of the year.