At the thirteenth sitting, held on 24 April 2009, the Committee on Health and the Family discussed in principle the Bill amending and modifying the Republic of Serbia 2009 Budget Law.

The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Dr Paja Momcilov, and attended by Assistant Minister of Health Zorica Pavlovic, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Republic Health Insurance Institute.

At the end of the discussion, the Committee unanimously adopted the following conclusions:

1. The Committee unanimously decided to propose that the Finance Committee not accept the Bill amending and modifying the Republic of Serbia 2009 Budget Law. Committee members Dr Zarko Korac and Milan Dimitrijevic reserved their opinion.

2. The Committee does not agree with the reduction of funds allocated for health protection of Serbian citizens envisaged by the Republic Health Insurance Institute financial plan, particularly not with the cut in funds intended for primary health protection.

3. The Committee is of the opinion that the budget rebalance should not reduce the attained level of the citizens’ right to health protection, or the volume of health protection.

4. The Committee is against the reductions of funds intended for medicines.

5. The Committee had timely stressed the need to direct the 27 billion RSD worth of funds realised by non-standard services in 2008, towards covering the budgetary deficit, which the rebalance has not done.