National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Forty-Ninth Sitting of the Committee on Health and the Family
At the sitting held on 19 July, the Committee on Health and the Family discussed corruption in the health care system. The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Dr Paja Momcilov.
At the sitting held on 19 July, the Committee on Health and the Family discussed corruption in the health care system. The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Dr Paja Momcilov.
At the beginning of the sitting, the Committee Chairman declared corruption in the health care system an exceptionally big social problem also mentioned by the European Commission in its annual report on Serbia’s progress in the European integration process. The Committee had already had several debates on the topic in which corruption in health care was identified as a systemic problem, institutionalised in some segments which presents an additional difficulty in the fight against corruption.
The debate was prompted by a letter of the Doctors Against Corruption non-governmental organisation which listed a series of negative occurrences patients come against (trading with waiting lists, tenders and similar). Chairman Momcilov deemed that the competent authorities are not implementing the necessary measures to suppress and sanction corruption in the health care system.
The Committee members stressed that individual cases of corruption in the health care system should not be the reason to accuse the entire profession, asking that the charges of corruption in this field be finally resolved. They pointed out numerous examples of corruption in the health care system stressing that its first source is the introduction of additional labour for doctors i.e. conflict of interest between the private and public sector in the health care system. They requested that the Law on Additional Labour for Doctors be amended and that additional labour for doctors be abolished, and a law be passed to protect the patients’ rights.
Minister of Health Dr Zoran Stankovic pointed out that the Ministry of Health needs the help of competent authorities, primarily the prosecution, judiciary and the police to suppress the very prominent problem of corruption. He said that he had requested that the judicial authorities make a list of ongoing proceedings related to malversation in the health care system.
Regarding specific cases of suspected malversation the Minister said that the Ministry is currently inspecting the Kraljevo Health Care Center, as well as some others and the competent authorities have been given documentation relating to the procurement of vaccines and other issues.
The Minister said that the issue of additional labour merits public debate after which it should be decided on possible amendments to the law. In addition, he said that, considering that the Government’s mandate is nearing its end, there is not enough time for a more thorough health care reform.
Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency Zorana Markovic said that the 2005 Anti-Corruption Strategy is being reviewed and its amendments will cover health care and education. She opined that only cooperation between all the competent authorities and a clear legal and procedural framework can bring corruption down to the lowest level, the level of incident rather than that of common practice.
Director Markovic reminded that the Agency is in charge of preventive action and does not address specific cases of suspected corruption but forwards them to the competent authorities and insisted that the police and judiciary do their share of the work.
The representatives of the Association of Health Care Beneficiaries, association Doctors Against Corruption and Whistle web-portal shared numerous examples of corruption in the health care system among them trading with waiting lists at the Vojvodina Oncology Institute, misuse of funds earmarked for the reconstruction of clinical centres, procurement of ambulance vehicles, as well as the tender for the procurement of vaccines against the new flu and other examples.
Following the debate, the Committee adopted the following conclusions:
1) The Committee on Health and the Family of the National Assembly appeals to all the state authorities to act in all cases of suspected corruption in the health care system according to the Constitution and competences established by law;
2) In order to suppress corruption in the health care system and society in general, the Committee supports all the efforts and activities of the Anti-Corruption Agency aimed at strengthening the integrity and responsibility of all health care institutions and employees;
3) The Committee appeals to the judiciary bodies to process all cases of corruption in the health care system in the shortest possible time in line with the Constitution and the law and
4) The Committee appeals to all social factors to give their contribution to suppressing corruption in the health care system in a manner based in fact and expert analysis, free of any kind of sensationalism, for the purpose of strengthening the citizens’ trust in the health care system.
At the beginning of the sitting, the Committee Chairman declared corruption in the health care system an exceptionally big social problem also mentioned by the European Commission in its annual report on Serbia’s progress in the European integration process. The Committee had already had several debates on the topic in which corruption in health care was identified as a systemic problem, institutionalised in some segments which presents an additional difficulty in the fight against corruption.
The debate was prompted by a letter of the Doctors Against Corruption non-governmental organisation which listed a series of negative occurrences patients come against (trading with waiting lists, tenders and similar). Chairman Momcilov deemed that the competent authorities are not implementing the necessary measures to suppress and sanction corruption in the health care system.
The Committee members stressed that individual cases of corruption in the health care system should not be the reason to accuse the entire profession, asking that the charges of corruption in this field be finally resolved. They pointed out numerous examples of corruption in the health care system stressing that its first source is the introduction of additional labour for doctors i.e. conflict of interest between the private and public sector in the health care system. They requested that the Law on Additional Labour for Doctors be amended and that additional labour for doctors be abolished, and a law be passed to protect the patients’ rights.
Minister of Health Dr Zoran Stankovic pointed out that the Ministry of Health needs the help of competent authorities, primarily the prosecution, judiciary and the police to suppress the very prominent problem of corruption. He said that he had requested that the judicial authorities make a list of ongoing proceedings related to malversation in the health care system.
Regarding specific cases of suspected malversation the Minister said that the Ministry is currently inspecting the Kraljevo Health Care Center, as well as some others and the competent authorities have been given documentation relating to the procurement of vaccines and other issues.
The Minister said that the issue of additional labour merits public debate after which it should be decided on possible amendments to the law. In addition, he said that, considering that the Government’s mandate is nearing its end, there is not enough time for a more thorough health care reform.
Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency Zorana Markovic said that the 2005 Anti-Corruption Strategy is being reviewed and its amendments will cover health care and education. She opined that only cooperation between all the competent authorities and a clear legal and procedural framework can bring corruption down to the lowest level, the level of incident rather than that of common practice.
Director Markovic reminded that the Agency is in charge of preventive action and does not address specific cases of suspected corruption but forwards them to the competent authorities and insisted that the police and judiciary do their share of the work.
The representatives of the Association of Health Care Beneficiaries, association Doctors Against Corruption and Whistle web-portal shared numerous examples of corruption in the health care system among them trading with waiting lists at the Vojvodina Oncology Institute, misuse of funds earmarked for the reconstruction of clinical centres, procurement of ambulance vehicles, as well as the tender for the procurement of vaccines against the new flu and other examples.
Following the debate, the Committee adopted the following conclusions:
1) The Committee on Health and the Family of the National Assembly appeals to all the state authorities to act in all cases of suspected corruption in the health care system according to the Constitution and competences established by law;
2) In order to suppress corruption in the health care system and society in general, the Committee supports all the efforts and activities of the Anti-Corruption Agency aimed at strengthening the integrity and responsibility of all health care institutions and employees;
3) The Committee appeals to the judiciary bodies to process all cases of corruption in the health care system in the shortest possible time in line with the Constitution and the law and
4) The Committee appeals to all social factors to give their contribution to suppressing corruption in the health care system in a manner based in fact and expert analysis, free of any kind of sensationalism, for the purpose of strengthening the citizens’ trust in the health care system.