MPs adopt law on prevention, diagnosis of rare diseases

BELGRADE - Members of the Serbian parliament adopted Friday a so-called "Zoja's Law," under which doctors who are unable to establish a diagnosis in six months' time are to order blood and tissue samples of patients to be sent to laboratories abroad at the government's expense.

All of the MPs present at the vote cast their votes in favor of the law.

Dusan Milisavljevic of the Democratic Party, who put forward the legislation, accepted nine of the 19 amendments proposed by MPs and 26 amendments tabled by the Serbian government.

The adoption of the Law on prevention and diagnosis of genetic diseases, genetically caused anomalies and rare diseases was urged for by the parents of Zoja Mirosavljevic, who died of Batten disease, and all MP groups supported the law.

All MPs groups share the view that the adoption of this law means that society has taken responsibility for improving the country's health system.

Milisavljevic pointed out during parliamentary debate that most of the victims of rare disease were children, who had until now been completely invisible to the health system.

Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar said that money for treatment of those children had been secured, with EUR four million in a new fund set up for the purpose, adding that their treatment would later be financed from the National Health Insurance Fund.

Photo Tanjug, O. Toskic