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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

National conference on patients’ rights important for advancing these rights

Belgrade, 2 November 2007

Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic said today that the national conference on patients’ rights, which the Health Ministry is organising within the framework of Serbia’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), is important for spreading information about the importance of these rights.

Denis Huber and Tomica Milosavljevic

Author: Fonet

At a gathering held in the Serbian Army club, Milosavljevic pointed out the importance of the activities Serbia is undertaking for improving these rights, and also the results achieved and the limitations in this area. He added that protection of patients’ rights is not protection of certain virtual rights, rather a part of realising human rights in the health system.

He said that the campaign by the Health Ministry for improving patients’ rights was relatively successful, but he stressed that there is no universal campaign which could improve the situation in this area within a short period of time.

The Minister said that 2,253 complaints were registered since the beginning of the year until the end of September which involved violation of patients’ rights, and 2,067 of these cases have been dealt with.

Head of the CoE Office in Belgrade Denis Huber called upon Serbia to ratify the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, which puts human rights above purely scientific interests.

Huber recalled that in 2003 when Serbia joined the CoE, it showed clear willingness to abide by the principles of this convention, but he added that this document will take effect only after its ratification.

He stressed that the six months presidency of Serbia over the CoE Committee of Ministers was very successful, and four more conferences will be organised during its last ten days until November 12. These conferences will be about higher education, regional cooperation, the role of NGOs in society and intercultural dialogue.

Representatives of association of patients “Reakcija”, Minister Milosavljevic, Minister’s advisor Snezana Simic, Assistant Minister Ivana Misic, head of the Ministry’ health inspection Dana Mihailovic and advisor for protection of patients’ rights Maja Ivetic as well as directors of health centers in Serbia will also take part in this conference.