an hour agoSerbia legally allows doctors to take bribes
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)Serbia's government has adopted the new Health Care Law, through which it has legitimised the bribe doctors take from patients to conduct an operation. According to this act, the bribe will be considered a gift and which could amount to 462 euros. The new law adopted by the date [...]
The new law adopted on April 3rd allows doctors to accept gifts from patients or family members. These gifts should not exceed the average net wage, which is 462 euros, writes politics.rs, broadcast Schneta newspaper.
These gifts will no longer be treated as corruption, yet doctors are forbidden to seek these gifts.
The Ministry of Health has clarified that for this legal act it has been hired with the Anti-Corruption Agency. This has met with fierce opposition because Serbian citizens pay health insurance taxes, and this will force them to pay even gifts.
The universality principle of access to health care has also been violated with this law. It is not clear how much such gifts for 500 euros will receive doctors every month”, Darko Karadjinovic of the Anti-Corruption Medical Association has declared.
On the other hand, president of the Association of Private Doctors of Serbia, Dr. Viselav Hadzi Tanovic considers that there is a thought in Serbian society that doctors should be given symbolic gifts. Even when going to a private doctor, patients send him a bottle of liquor or clusters of flowers”, he stated.
Serbia's Penal Code envisions prison sentences of three months to 12 years for doctors who took bribes.
