Conference: “Women Health and Health Care Policy in Serbia”
Sava Center, Belgrade, June 20, 2006
As part of a series of round tables dedicated to the key problems of health care in Serbia, PALGO Center organized, in co-operation with the Fund for an Open Society from Belgrade, on June 20, 2006, in Sava Centre, a round table on Women Health and Health Care Policy in Serbia.
The goal of the meeting was to gather relevant experts, governmental and non-governmental organizations, in order to open discussion on pertinent issues related to these rather neglected problems.
Introductory speeches were delivered by Ms. Snežana Simić, assistant to the Minister of Health (Women Health and their Health Care in Serbia), Ms. Hajrija Mujović-Zornić from Institute of Social Sciences (Woman and Her Health Care Rights), and Ms. Đurđica Zorić from NGO Bibija (Problems and Needs of Roma Women and Health Care).
The discussion that followed raised some essential issues and articulated some conference recommendations and conclusions:
1. The Women Health Care policy in Serbia could be based on the acctual health status and the position of women, taking into consideration all that determines, and especially all that threatens and has consequences to the women health. The Health Care policy, based on a holistic approach should encompass a continuity of care for the health of women, from the period of conception, until the end of their lives, starting with the prohibition of selection female embryos, to the birth, and during her entire life, until death.
2. In order to be effective, the Women Health Care Policy should be transformed into concrete goals and legal and other regulations, especially in connection with reproductive health. Existing regulations need to be supplemented and revised, and in some segments new regulations should be adopted. The vulnerability of the female population at this point in time is reflected in legal regulations that are in connection only with the reproductive role of the woman, which should be broadened, especially to in order to deal with problems of women invalids, women victims of violence, and generally where this is recognized, to women under specific conditions of life or work, since all listed situations influence to a significant degree the physical and mental health of women.
3. Women's rights in the domain of Health Care should be regarded in a broader context, as a part of patient's rights, which exist for all individuals, as well as a part of the overall position of women in Serbia, reflected in concrete situations (the family, social environment, economic, and labor and legal status).
4. An important determinant in the protection of reproductive health are reproductive rights, while the protection of health in this domain can be adequately promoted and implemented only if they are fully respected.
5. More pronounced participation of women is required in decision making pertaining to health, which would contribute to better recognition of the health needs and problems of women by the creators of Health Care policies and by Health Care services. The participation of women in creating and implementing Health Care policies should be ensured via their participation in competent representative bodies.
Conference participants:
Aleksandra Pešić, Labris
Bosiljka Đikanović, School of Medicine, Belgrade University
Dejan Pavlović, PALGO Center
Vesna Tešić, Democratic Party
Dubravka Stojanović, Woman Center, Leskovac
Dušan Damjanović, PALGO Center
Dušica B.B.Radišić, Selfsupporting Mothers
Đurđica Zorić, Bibija
Jadranka Stojanović, Fund for an Open Society
Lepojka Mitanovska, Iz kruga - Support Group for Women & Children with Disabilities
Ljiljana Aksentijević, Alternative Curcle
Ljiljana Bogavac, Incest Trauma Center
Maja Savić, Labris
Mijat Damjanović, PALGO Center
Olivera Janković, PALGO Center
Sanja Jović, Victimology Society of Srbije
Silvija Koso, CIDA
Snežana Simić, Ministry of Health
Srmena Krstev, Institute of Labor Medicine
Stanislava Otašević, Autonomus Women Center
Radenka Grubačić, Labris
Slavoljub Gudurić, Saint Ana
Snežana Mađerčić, Iz kruga -Support Group for Women & Children with Disabilities
Toni Bislimi, Center for Minority Rights
Hajrija Mujović-Zornić, Institute of Social Sciences
Media
Marija Perković
Milena Prstojević
Milica Knežević
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