On 14 January, Serbian Minister of Health Prof. Dr Tomica Milosavljevic awarded Serbian National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic for her exceptional contributions to the protection of the public from exposure to second-hand smoke and caring for the health of Serbian citizens.

The award was established by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, Serbian Public Health Institute “Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut”, Tobacco Control Office and Smoking Prevention Commission so as to publicly recognise the individuals and institutions who had contributed to the implementation of the Law on the Protection of the Population from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke.

Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic is the first winner of the award due to the fact that the Serbian Assembly had begun implementing the smoking ban almost a month before the official enforcement of the law, banning smoking in both Serbian Assembly buildings – at Nikola Pasic Square and Kralja Milana Street, and placing the parliamentary group heads in charge of controlling whether the deputies abide by the ban. Smoking is banned in all enclosed working and public areas at the Assembly, no-smoking stickers have been displayed, and ashtrays have been removed from the bars.

The law aims to systemically organise the protection of the public from exposure to second-hand smoke in line with scientific proof, then to create the conditions for a healthy working environment free from tobacco smoke and achieve a positive effect on the citizens’ health. The experience of European and other countries demonstrates a decrease in acute heart infarctions soon after the implementation of legal measures, and in time, other, primarily malignant and respiratory, illnesses. The preventive actions motivate the youth and children not to take up smoking, and the smoking adult population to quit smoking and choose healthy life styles.

The Ministry of Health will continue to award the recognition for contributions to the protection of the public from exposure to second-hand smoke.