Mental health care system reforms in Serbia

Ministry of Health of Republic of Serbia established a National Committee for Mental Health (NCMH) in January 2003, with the mandate to organize reforms in the country. This body consists of ten psychiatrists from different parts of the country, no other professionals are included. Activities of the NCMH are presented in the report posted on the web.

NCMH is also responsible for implementation of South East Europe Mental Health Project "Enhancing social cohesion through Strengthening Community Mental Health Services in South Eastern Europe", in Serbia. The overall aim of the Project was initiation of mental health reforms in eight countries of Stability Pact. Tasks were: 1. assessment of overall situation in mental health system, 2. producing the mental health policy and action plan, 3. writing a new legislation on protection of rights of mentally ill, 4. endorsement of these documents within the government and in a parliament, 5. establishment of the pilot community mental healt center (CMHC).

Of these tasks, NCMH has produced National Mental Health Policy and Action Plan which was adopted by the Government on January 19, 2007.

Law on protection of individuals with mental health disorders is drafted and sent to Ministry, but is not submitted to the Parliament for adoption. Pilot CMHC has been established in municipality Mediana in Ni¹.

Mental Health Policy and future Law will strongly support reforms of existing mental health care system toward modern, community based mental health care and open possibility for gradual development of easily accessible, free-of-charge and close-to-home mental health services that should decrease number of people referred to long-term psychiatric hospital rehabilitation.

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