Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Health care system, one of the preconditions for survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija

The participants of the round table, gathering the representatives of health care institutions within the internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija, informed that health care system, along with educational system, represents one of the most important factors when it comes to survival of Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija.

“White coats, hand in hand with workers in the field of education, represent the first line of survival of our people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Marko Djurić, the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, declared and added that Serbia did not “sit with its hands folded doing nothing” during the last three years, but rather did a lot in terms of strengthening of the position of health care institutions.

He recalled that the entire reorganization of health care institutions was conducted and that a new network of said institutions was made.

“A deserted object in the meadow – now a new hospital in Pasjane, was opened and became key center for health care issues of our people in the Valley of Morava part of Kosovo and Metohija. New health center was opened in Goraždevac and Health center in Kosovska Mitrovica got promoted to a status of Clinical Center”, Djurić said.

According to him, a new campus of the Faculty of Medicine in Kosovska Mitrovica was built, new Student’s Policlinic of the University of Priština with a seat in Kosovska Mitrovica was opened, numerous infirmaries were renovated, new oncology department in Kosovska Mitrovica…

“It is important to draw Albanian neighbors and all others to seek medical attention within our health system because this way bonds between people become stronger, this introduces normality and makes us closer to one another. We will continue strengthening the health care system in Kosovo and Metohija”, Djurić asserted.

The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, Professor Nebojsa Lalić, insisted on the importance of continuous education of health care workers who are employed in health care institutions in Kosovo and Metohija, and on training teams of doctors in order for them to perform procedures which have not been done before.

When it comes to education, as he said, the Faculty of Medicine of Priština with a seat in Kosovska Mitrovica will have a special role, as well as all faculties of the Community of faculties of medicine.

Minister of Health, Zlatibor Lončar, pointed out that his department supports the internal dialogue and added that “we have to be united” no matter the nature of final decision.

“We have agreed that Serbia will be the one to finance and maintain the health care system in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija”, Lončar informed.

He admits that he is not fully informed about the state of affairs in Kosovo and Metohija but that he has confidence in the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and his team which is headed by the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

“We are certain that the President has enough information, that he is fully aware of the situation and we are giving him full support with an aim to resolve this issue”, Lončar noted and pointed out that he respects the decision to address the issue, rather than sweep the said issue under the rug as it was before.

The Rector of the University of Priština, Rade Grbić, underlined that the functioning of health care system in Kosovo and Metohija is being burdened with numerous issues, but that they nonetheless managed to organize and provide health care in all Serbian environments thanks to continuous presence and engagement of the Ministry of Health and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

“One of the most important conclusions is that the health care system, along with the educational system, represents one of the most important factors for survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Grbić declared.

He highlighted the fact that the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and workers in the health care system as well are especially pleased for getting assurances during the visit of President Aleksandar Vučić that the health care system in Kosovo and Metohija will remain a part of the health care system of Serbia.

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