On 25 May 2026, in Belgrade, the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) organized a meeting of the Health Network on the topic “Public Health at the Local Level in the Republic of Serbia and Regional Experiences”. The event brought together representatives of local self-governments, health institutions, the line ministry and international organizations, with a special contribution from senior officials and representatives of towns and municipalities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro. The event was organized within the framework of the programme “Partnership for Good Local Governance”, supported by the Government of Switzerland.
Prof. Dr Nebojša Tasić, Assistant Minister of Health of the Republic of Serbia, stated in his opening remarks that public health is not limited to chronic non-communicable diseases, as infectious and communicable diseases also present significant challenges.
“Our goal is to intensively address chronic non-communicable diseases, and the preparation of Serbia’s strategy for combating them over the next ten years is currently underway. At the same time, we are witnessing much greater challenges related to infectious and communicable diseases, as well as major challenges concerning environmental protection and what I would call issues of primordial prevention, such as air quality, water quality and food quality, together with numerous risk factors that place an additional burden on us, including tobacco and nicotine product consumption and physical inactivity,” he explained.
He emphasized that these issues demonstrate the complexity of the factors affecting public health as a whole and therefore require a multidisciplinary approach.
“It is encouraging to see experts from different fields gathered here today to discuss these issues. Equally important is the approach related to local communities and regional cooperation. Thanks to our guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and, of course, us as hosts from Serbia, we have the opportunity to hear different experiences and, within the Health Network, explore what we can do together to improve quality of life and, naturally, preserve our health,” said Tasić.
Prof. Dr Verica Jovanović, Acting Director of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Milan Jovanović Batut”, emphasized the importance of cooperation with SCTM in strengthening public health objectives across local self-governments.
“Public health encompasses a wide range of tasks related to healthcare, particularly preventive healthcare. This is why it is extremely important for us to address topics that are not exclusively health-related but nevertheless have a significant impact on the health of the population,” said Jovanović.
Fabio Skano, Director of the World Health Organization Office in Serbia, stressed that it is a misconception to believe that public health originates solely from healthcare institutions. Instead, he emphasized, the foundation of public health lies within local communities.
He particularly highlighted cooperation on the development of public health plans, as well as preparedness and response plans for specific public health risks in crisis and emergency situations, which have been developed in recent years through cooperation among the Ministry of Health, the WHO Office, SCTM and local self-governments. He noted that emergency response plans developed together with local communities, rather than merely for them, provide a much more effective response in times of crisis.
Skano also took the opportunity to invite local self-governments to join the World Health Organization’s “Healthy Cities” initiative.
“I encourage all of you to join this initiative in as great numbers as possible. It focuses on a healthy environment, healthy communities, healthy lifestyles, as well as urban infrastructure that supports healthier living,” Skano concluded.
Nikola Tarbuk, Secretary General of SCTM, emphasized that public health is no longer solely a matter for the healthcare system, but also a matter of governance, development planning, social policy, environmental protection and the quality of life of citizens. He stressed that health in all policies is no longer merely a recommendation, but a standard to which all should aspire.
“The concept of ‘Health in All Policies’, which lies at the core of modern public policies in many countries and within the European Union itself, implies exactly what we are discussing today – the integration of public health into all sectors and all levels of decision-making,” said the Secretary General of SCTM.
Tarbuk noted that the majority of the European integration process is implemented at the local self-government level, which is why the role of towns and municipalities is crucial, since without a strong local level there can be neither sustainable public health nor successful European integration.
The event was dedicated to reviewing numerous activities undertaken by SCTM over the past decade with the support of the Government of Switzerland, the results achieved in the field of public health at the local level, and the transfer of practical knowledge and experience. Towns and municipalities from Serbia presented their examples of good practice. The City of Sombor highlighted the importance of a multisectoral approach and continuity in implementing measures aimed at improving public health. Kragujevac presented achievements resulting from systemic support for parenting and early childhood development, while the Municipality of Raška showcased a unique institutional model for providing socio-health services. Representatives of Pirot and Babušnica shared plans for systematically addressing the availability of emergency medical services through inter-municipal cooperation.
The second part of the event was dedicated to regional experiences and the results achieved through the project “Healthy Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, also supported by the Government of Switzerland, with the participation of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska, the City of Tuzla and the Municipality of Čelinac.
Mišela Manojlović, Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, presented opportunities for linking health, eco and rural tourism with organic agricultural production and healthy lifestyles. Additional contributions to the exchange of regional experiences were provided by representatives of the City of Poreč, who presented the “Healthy Cities” initiative and the results achieved by the city in the field of public health over the past three decades. A representative of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Milan Jovanović Batut” spoke about the importance of networking and partnership between local self-governments and public health institutes. In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of the SCTM Health Network, which for more than a decade has served as a platform for exchanging information, ideas and examples of good practice in public health and health protection at the local level.
“This event demonstrates that local self-governments are not alone in their efforts to improve the health of their citizens. Networking, knowledge exchange and regional cooperation are key drivers of progress in public health at the local level,” emphasized Dr Jasmina Tanasić, Programme Director for Social Development at SCTM and Coordinator of the SCTM Health Network.
The event provided an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experience among local decision-makers, public health experts and international partners. Participants had the opportunity to learn about proven models that work in practice, identify challenges common to all local communities and explore solutions that can be applied in their own environments.
