Legal framework and institutional responsibilities
The Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut" (IPHS) is an national expert institution which provides advice, support and guidance for the Serbian government by conducting independent researches in the field of public health.
The activity of IPHS is defined by the National Strategy for Public Health 2018-2026, the Law on Public Health, the Law on Health Care, the Health Insurance Law, the Law on Health Documentation and Records in the Field of Health Care, the Law on Official Statistics, as well as the adopted strategies and programmes for improving the health of citiziens.
The mission of IPHS is health improvement of the population of the Republic of Serbia through development of interdisciplinary and multisectoral activities in the Public Health System.
The Institute´s main areas of activity are: analysis, planning and organization of health care, health informatics and biostatistics, health promotion, control and disease prevention, hygiene and human ecology and microbiology.
Within the scope of their competence in national statistics, IPHS collects data on health and utilization of health services, maintanes databases on the health care system resources and national public health registries, generates population survey data, and produces health information for effective health reporting to authorities and public.
Health information strategy
In January 2021, the Government of Serbia has formed a Coordination Body for healthcare system digitalization, as a joint group involving the public and private sectors in this area, with the aim of a strategic approach to eHealth development. The task of this body is to work on creating the National Program for the Development of eHealth with an action plan, improving the legal framework, and introducing modern technological solutions in this area. Also, members will make proposals for better and more efficient services in the public and private healthcare sector, coordinate priority digitization projects and monitor the implemented measures.The objective of this program is to enable using information and communication technologies, smooth and high-quality functioning of all parts of the healthcare system through automatization and reduction of costs of all administrative procedures and processes which accompany the main activities of the healthcare system.
The Integrated Health Information System of the Republic of Serbia, as defined by the Law on Health Documentation and Records in the Field of Health Care, shall be organised and developed for the purposes of planning and efficient managing with the health care system, health insurance system, as well as collecting and processing data related to population health, health care financing and operation of the health service. It shall consist of health statistics system, information system of health insurance organisations and information systems of health care facilities, with the main purpose to ensure availability of health data to all participants in the health care system according to their rights, roles and responsibilities. The data controller that makes up the Integrated Health Information System of the Republic of Serbia is IPHS.
