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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Systemic laws in health sector highly significant

Belgrade, 20 March 2006

Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic today said that the most significant achievements of the Ministry of Health in the past two years have been the adoption of systemic laws, advancement in smoking prevention, the introduction of health care quality measurement and rationalisation of human resources and capacities in health centres.

At a press conference devoted to presentation of the ministry's results in the past two years, Milosavljevic said that the period has also been marked by large investment in health centres and fighting corruption in the health sector. The ministry has also made the lists of patients waiting for the most complicated surgical procedures transparent.

The minister stressed that treatment conditions have considerable improved in the past two years and that the 2006 health budget has increased tenfold compared to 2001.

Milosavljevic stated that now every district hospital in Serbia has diagnostic scanners. Much work has been done in equipping maternity hospitals, neonatology and cardiology hospitals, oncology wards and intensive care units. This period has also seen the procurement of 11 angiography theatres.

Currently, €100 million is being invested in the reconstruction of 20 hospitals in Serbia, including the Institute of Immunology and Virology “Torlak”, said the minister. He explained that the Neonatology Institute has received €2.4 million in direct investment, the Belgrade Institute of Oncology and Radiology €3.4 million, the Clinical Centre in Kragujevac €4.85 million and the Specialised Psychiatric Hospital in Toponica €3.3 million.

The ministry has intensified its participation in the activities of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the minister and recalled that he has been elected member of the WHO Permanent Committee for Europe, which represents significant recognition for the whole health care system in Serbia.

According to Milosavljevic, in October 2005 a conference on palliative care, organised by the Council of Europe, was held in Belgrade, which confirmed the position of all CoE members that palliative care should not be a privilege of the rich alone.

Milosavljevic stressed that in the past two years all the activities of his ministry's have been exposed to public scrutiny and information made available, including reports on mistakes made by doctors, corruption, financing and work of inspections.

Speaking about legislative activities, Milosavljevic specified that the ministry adopted several laws, i.e. laws on medicines and medical supplies, protection of citizens from infectious diseases, sanitary surveillance, health care, health insurance, associations of medical workers, precursors, and the Red Cross.

The Minister announced the beginning of work on a project themed "Health Sector for 21st Century" which will imply a new investment cycle. This will include the completion of reconstruction of clinical centres, hospitals and health centres in line with European standards, as well as setting up a health insurance database.

Milosavljevic pointed out that a total of €350 million is to be invested in the health sector this year. One part of the funds will be set aside from the budget surplus and the other from a loan granted by the European Investment Bank.