Radmila Ivanek, special advisor to the Minister of Health, presented the Bill to the Committee members stressing that it brings the legislation a step closer to EU regulations. Ivanek added that the existing systemic law contains 12 patients’ rights, while the new law would add 7 more patient’s rights such as the right to preventive measures, to the quality of medical services rendered, right to relief of suffering, to a second expert opinion, to patient safety, right to leave the healthcare facility at their own risk and others. She stressed that all involved in patients’ rights protection are planned to undergo training in the next six months, primarily future patients’ rights protection advisors who will be replacing the patients’ rights protectors at the healthcare facilities.

UNICEF representative Jelena Zajeganovic Jakovljevic said that the organisation endorses the Bill on Patients’ Rights which confirm the children’s rights guaranteed under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Following a short debate, the Committee members adopted the Bill on Patients’ Rights, in principle, by a majority of votes.

Assistant Minister of Health Slavka Lakicevic presented the Bill on Protection of Persons with Mental Health Problems, submitted by the Government. Lakicevic said that the Bill should regulate the status of persons with mental health problems in healthcare institutions, adding that their hospitalization was a point of particular attention.

The Committee members adopted the Bill on Protection of Persons with Mental Health Problems, in principle, by a majority of votes.

The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Meho Omerovic.