"Close and proactive cooperation of local health councils, public health institutes and institutions, as well as other partners and actors in the field of public health, results in significant progress of local self-government in the field of public health," said Nikola Tarbuk, Secretary General of SKGO at the meeting of SKGO Network for health held on October 31 in Belgrade.
Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) organized a meeting of the Network for health, marking ten years of the Network's work, and was attended by 89 participants from 37 towns and municipalities. The Network was moderated by Dr. Jasmina Tanasić, program director for social development at SCTM.
Secretary General of SCTM Nikola Tarbuck described the Network for health as one of the most active and reminded of all the achievements this Network made from its foundation until today.
"The process of establishing legal, strategic and institutional framework for the competences of local self-government in the field of public health and protection of patients' rights started in 2009. Through three adopted strategic plans and fourth one that is being developed, SCTM has continuously planned, implemented, evaluated and improved activities on development of public health policies at the local level and protection of patients' rights in order to strengthen the capacities of towns and municipalities in implementation of these responsibilities," Tarbuk stated and added that SCTM's support in the field of public health and protection of patients' rights had several stages and contributed to building the capacities of local self-governments in the field of public health.
Goran Makučević, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of prevention.
"The Ministry of Health is planning to increase the number of preventive examinations, with a focus on health centers. It is necessary to act preventively and inform citizens on importance of preventive examinations and controls, instead of waiting for the moment when disease already occurs," emphasized Makučević.
Prof. Dr. Verica Jovanović, acting director of the Institute for Public Health "Milan Jovanović Batut" thanked for the opportunity to participate in discussion on importance of public health and health care program.
"It is very important that education in the field of preventive medicine be the basis for gathering collaborators in the field of public health, who will, at the level of all other institutions, provide support for selection and formation of those public health programs that are essential for local self-government in order to improve the health status of the population. Our task is to monitor potential risk factors for public health, to determine what the priorities are and to be ready to respond most effectively at the local level," said Prof. Dr. Verica Jovanović.
Currently, about 60 towns and municipalities have adopted public health plans, and about 20 are in the process of adoption. During this and the previous year, 12 regional workshops were held on the topic of preparing a public health program structure model, public health programming and budgeting at the local level. SCTM accredited training on the protection of patients' rights was completed primarily by advisors for patients' rights and health advisors, as well as representatives of the health inspection and representatives of some health institutions.
The meeting of the Network was organized within the project "Partnership for Good Local Government", supported by the Swiss Government.
