The Chairperson of the Health and Family Committee thanked the delegation for the visit, saying she was sure the meeting and exchange of experiences concerning social welfare and healthcare would be very significant for Serbia because of the business ahead – harmonisation of healthcare and social welfare with European regulations i.e. the obligations stemming from Chapter 28.

The Head of the France-Serbia PFG Martine Carrillon-Couvreur said that France is still conducting the public debate on public health reform. She stressed that France has focused on mental health and is attempting to secure the necessary care and legal protection for people suffering from these types of disorders. Martine Carrillon-Couvreur had questions about children’s healthcare in Serbia and the operating principles of additional and supplemental insurance.

Djukic Dejanovic informed the French delegation about the Committee’s activities, draft laws being prepared in related areas and the mode of operation of the National Health Insurance Fund. She announced the possible equalisation of private and public healthcare practice which would, she believes, considerably shorted the waiting lists.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Labour, Social Issues, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction spoke about the Committee’s activities with a special focus on the successful programme Social Inclusion – Generation of the Future and employment of persons with disabilities.

The Head of the France-Serbia PFG concluded that in certain segments healthcare and social welfare in Serbia is better organised than in France, listing as an example the cooperation of the state bodies with associations of disabled persons and employers for the purpose of finding employment for persons with disabilities.