CEMI - Centar za monitoring i istraživanje

A step backwards in the fight against corruption in the field of health

12. Feb. 2015. in publications

The focus of this brief review on corruption in healthcare stems from specific provisions in the new Law on Healthcare, enacted on December 28, 2015. Article 98 of this law enables healthcare workers and associates employed full-time at state-founded healthcare facilities to enter into contracts for additional work within those facilities or with other state-founded or legally recognized entities, subject to the approval of the director and compliance with the minister's regulations.

This provision effectively grants doctors the option, albeit with potential limitations, to engage in private practice alongside their primary duties. However, despite the law's stipulations, the Ministry of Health has yet to issue regulations specifying the eligible facilities for additional work, nearly two months after the law came into effect. The absence of these regulations creates inconsistencies in the approval process for additional work requests received during this period.

Moreover, the lack of specified facilities, coupled with the vague requirement of obtaining the director's opinion and the minister's consent, raises concerns about the potential for politically motivated decisions in granting permits for additional work to select healthcare workers.