Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic attended ceremony opening of the first Daily Hospice Center in Belgrade, which is the first such center in Serbia.

Commissioner Jankovic pointed to the importance and significance of providing care and first aid to people in terminal phase of illness, as well as to their families, stressing that Commissioner issued a recommendation of measures to competent authorities in order to undertake all activities with aim to improve the palliative care system in the Republic of Serbia.

The importance of developing social-health services and institutions were especially stressed in the opinion about Draft law on amendments of Law on Social Care that did not adequately regulate this important area. Palliative care should be enabled for anyone in need, regardless of their age, emphasized Commissioner Jankovic.

Reminding that today is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Commissioner stated that, according to all researches, poor citizens are perceived as one of the most discriminated and vulnerable groups. Poverty has great influence on social exclusion, which indicates the necessity of providing all types of assistance and help to citizens who are poor or are in risk of poverty.

This is why all competent authorities should express special dedication, responsibility and obligation to suppress poverty and social exclusion in Serbia, and also to create new strategic document and consistently implement it in future, stressed Commissioner.