The Ministry of Health Activity Information was presented to the Committee members by Minister of Health Slavica Djukic Dejanovic, who emphasised that she would cover the period from 27 June to 3 October when the Ministry of Health introduced the term of metabolic disorders in children into the budget terminology with a tendency to increase the funds allocated to this category.
The Minister informed the Committee members that the Ministry would, in the upcoming period, work on separating the scope of the three umbrella health institutions in Serbia, Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health and the Republic Health Insurance Fund. Primary healthcare medical workers of will in future be engaged in professional activities and their administrative duties will be reduced to a minimum. The so-called “capitation formula” is also to be introduced according to which physicians will be assessed according to result i.e. the number of patients examined, and a commission is to be formed to follow the implementation of this type of operation. As regards innovations in the health insurance system, it is planned that children under 18 and new mothers, until the baby’s first birthday, are guaranteed healthcare, the reasons why they lacked healthcare before notwithstanding. The Ministry will also work on bringing back the diabetics counseling centres and equating private and state property in the sphere of pharmacy, which would mean that citizens can have their receipt filled in one of the state owned health institutions realised in private pharmacies as well. Ministry of Health working groups are engaged on the preparation of bills on the protection of patients’ rights and the rights of persons with mental disabilities.
In the ensuing debate, the Committee members showed interest in issues concerning the Ministry’s operation, reform of Serbia’s healthcare policy, staff deficit, treatment waiting lists for patients with malignant illnesses, need for continuous education of medical workers and “drain” of experts abroad. Also, the Committee members pointed out the need for transparency in recruitment, centralization of tenders, the issue of additional work for physicians and the need to build new emergency centres in Serbia. They also discussed the accreditation of medical institutions, functioning of the electronic medical records system and the work of the Accreditation Agency.
Following the lengthy debate, the Committee members accepted the Ministry of Health Activity Information for the period January-June 2012.
Presenting the Health Council of Serbia 2011 Regular Annual Activity Report, Council President Prof. Dr Dragan Delic informed the Committee members that, in the reported period, the Council had adopted the 2011-2015Healthcare Development Plan.
In the debate on this item on the agenda, the Committee members and the Serbian Health Council President exchanged opinions on the proposal that the Council should be involved in the oversight and quality evaluation of the education programmes only, and that the accreditation of education programmes for medical workers should be transferred to the Medical Chamber.
Following the debate, the Committee unanimously formulated the Conclusion Proposal on the Health Council of Serbia 2011 Regular Annual Activity Report and forwarded it to the National Assembly for deliberation and ruling.
The sitting was chaired by Prof. Dr Dusan Milisavljevic, Committee Chairman.