No. 07-00-56/2017-02  Date: 2. 6. 2017.

OPINION

The Opinion was issued in the course of the complaint procedure lodged by B.F. from Belgrade against the Republic of Serbia Health Insurance Fund, B. Branch Office, P. On-site Office on account of discrimination on the ground of disability. The opinion was issued following a complaint lodged by B.F. from B. against the Republic of Serbia Health Insurance Fund, B. Branch Office, P. On-site Office on account of discrimination on the ground of disability. In his complaint the complainant stated that he was an insuree of the Republic of Serbia Health Insurance Fund and was suffering from multiple sclerosis which has made it difficult for him to remain standing or to walk for longer periods of time. Furthermore, the complainant stated that on 2 February 2017 he had to renew his health card but as the P. On-site Office was inaccessible and as he was unable to stand or walk for longer periods of time due to his illness, he had not been able to renew his healthcare insurance. In his declaration P. On-site Office manager stated that “he could not remember” seeing B.F. come to the on-site office, that the premises of the on-site office were located on the second floor, that there was no easy access at the entrance in terms of an elevator, that there were four chairs and a bench in the waiting room intended for persons waiting in line as well as that there were no separate chairs reserved for people with disability, the elderly and expectant mothers. In the course of the complaint procedure it was impossible to ascertain whether B.F. had in fact been at the Republic Health Insurance Fund, B. Branch Office, P. On-site Office, as the complainant failed to offer proof substantiating his claim that he had in fact been at the on-site office premises on that particular date. However, the findings following on-site visit and the complaint and declaration analysis results, indicate that the premises of the Republic of Serbia Health Insurance Fund, B. Branch Office, P. On-site Office are in fact inaccessible to persons with disabilities and hence to B.F.as well, making it impossible for him to receive services provided by this branch office at these particular premises which constitutes a violation of the Law on Preventing Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination. For this reason the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality has issued a recommendation to the Republic Health Insurance Fund, B. Branch Office, P. On-site Office stating that they should undertake measures aimed at ensuring accessibility to and within the premises of P. On-site Office, to make adjustments to their daily operations routine so as to ensure accessibility of services to persons with disabilities and to refrain from violating anti-discrimination regulations in the course of their regular work and activities.  

Commissioner for the Protection of Equality

Brankica Janković

Complaint filed by B.F. against the Republic of Serbia Health Insurance Fund on account of discrimination on the grounds of disability in the area of service provision