Alternative Report on Implementation of the National Anti-corruption Strategy for 2013 – 2018 and the Action Plan for 2013 and 2014.
Belgrade Centre for Human Rights carried out the project “Implementation of the National Strategy for Combating Corruption 2013 – 2018 and the Action Plan – Alternative Report for 2013 and 2014” from September 2014 – January 2015. Law Scanner participated in the writing of the Alternative Report for the sector of health care. The project was funded by the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade.
Presentation of the Alternative Report was held on February 6th, 2015, in the House of Human Rights.
The report refers to the activities of the responsible entities in the areas of privatization and public-private partnerships, spatial planning and construction, healthcare, education and sports. Part of the report is dedicated to the prevention and the fight against corruption.
Health
Law Scanner pointed out in the report that the Ministry of Health partially fulfills the objectives of the Action Plan. Approach to the fight against corruption was not comprehensive enough and there is lack of the positive results. It is encouraging that the Ministry of Health submitted the required information on the work in the fight against corruption.
As in the previous Action Plan (2006) objectives and measures to combat corruption in health care were not defined, it cannot be given a score of medical institutions in the fight against corruption. However, it is concerning that only 28% of health facilities have adopted the plan of integrity.
In March 2014 the Ministry of Health formed working groups that worked on the analysis of the points in the four laws that are vulnerable to corruption. However, amendments are not harmonized, and it may cause a new point suitable for the development of corruption. It can be said that there are small steps forward which show that the Ministry of Health has willingness for reducing corruption.
Fullfieled activities
1. Written analysis of risks to corruption of the Health Protection Act, the Health Insurance Act, the Health Workers and the Law on Medicines and Medical Devices.
2. Written the Draft Law on the Ratification of the European Charter of Patients’ Rights.
3. Signed the Memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and Public Administration, Ministry of Interior Affairs, the Health and Family Committee, Republic Public Prosecutor, the State Audit Institution and the Anti-Corruption Agency.
4. The Law on medical records.
Other activities are not fulfilled or partially filled.
In the report, we pointed out that the fight against corruption will give good results if punishments for the bribery and soliciting and accepting bribes are more severe. The sector of justice has the main role in this field but the cooperation between state bodies is very important, too..