Justice and Health Ministers Nela Kuburović and Zlatibor Lončar attended the handover ceremony of 12 ambulance vehicles at the General Hospital of Aranđelovac. The vehicles for health-care facilities were procured with the so-called “opportunity funds” collected on the basis of non-prosecution agreements.
Minister Kuburović pointed out that, for the fourth year in a row, the Ministry of Justice had allocated opportunity funds. In 2019, RSD 470 million was granted to 150 projects of public importance. “Health is always a top priority and the largest portion of funds is allocated to health-care facilities. This year, we have granted RSD 180 million to 35 health-care institutions”, Minister Kuburović emphasised.
Over four years, RSD 700 million were approved for health care, of which RSD 300 million were for the procurement of ambulance vehicles. Apart from the health sector, funds were also earmarked for projects in the areas of social protection, education and culture.
The Justice Minister announced that the Fifth Public Competition for the allocation of opportunity funds would be launched early next year, inviting all interested parties to apply.
Minister Lončar thanked the Ministry of Justice for the funds which would contribute to ensuring better conditions in health-care institutions and providing better health care for citizens. “It is our intention to continue to work hard and ensure further investments to the benefit of each and every citizen and health-care worker”, the Health Minister said and observed that the situation in the health sector today was much better than before, and before it used to be very poor.
Nina Jeličić, Director of the Aranđelovac Health Centre (which received one vehicle), expressed gratitude to the Justice and Health Ministries for helping to improve the health-care quality in that city, adding that one more ambulance vehicle in the fleet meant a lot to the citizens of Aranđelovac.
In addition to the Aranđelovac Health Centre, ambulance vehicles were also provided to the Belgrade Neonatology Institute, primary health-care centres in Pećinci, Vrnjacka Banja, Ljig, Bajina Bašta and Rekovac, Belgrade Emergency Medical Service, Majdanpek General Hospital, and Belgrade’s clinic Dr Laza Lazarević.