At the sitting held on 11 November, the Committee on Health and the Family considered the problems concerning the flu epidemic and information on the measures implemented to suppress it. The sitting was chaired by Dr Paja Momcilov, Committee Chairman.

Minister of Health, Prof. Dr Tomica Milosavljevic informed the Committee members of the ordinance declaring an epidemic of the new A-H1N1 flu on the entire territory of Serbia and the measures for the prevention of its expansion. He said that 258 cases of the new flu have been confirmed in laboratories, there have been seven deaths, while four persons are in intensive care.

Minister Milosavljevic said that Serbia is not late with the vaccine and that it is among the first three countries outside the European Union to commence vaccinating its population at the beginning of December. He also said that, regarding the purchase of the vaccine, all was done in line with regulations and there is no reason for panic. The Minister also said that about 40 million people have been vaccinated so far and the vaccination has exhibited no ill effects.

The president of the Task Group monitoring the new flu, Dr Predrag Kon said that the situation in the country is unfavourable and varies among different regions of Serbia, but expressed an expectation that the vaccination of a large number of people would prevent further spread of the virus.

The Committee members pointed out that the citizens have not been adequately informed by the media about the new flu and health care representatives have been making different, even contradicting statements. They also asked why there were not enough vaccines against seasonal flu and why the competition for the procurement of the vaccine against the new flu was closed.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Nevena Karanovic and the directors of “Torlak” Institute, Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Batut”, Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Mother and Child Health Care Institute, as well as a representative of the Republic Health Insurance Institute took part in the sitting.

After the discussion, the Committee adopted the following conclusions:

1. The Committee endorses all the measures of the Republic of Serbia and Ministry of Health implemented to prevent further spread of the new flu.

2. The Task Group for the implementation of the activity plan before and during the flu pandemic is the only body competent to make clear decisions concerning the actions and implementation of these measures, binding for all institutions and individuals in the country.

3. In the upcoming period the Committee shall monitor the current situation and implement the policy of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Health concerning the declaration of flu epidemic.

4. The Committee calls on all competent institutions, as well as the media,
to provide the citizens with responsible and timely information
necessary for the efficient implementation of the anti-epidemic
measures.