Care homes in Serbia

1. Which laws apply to opening care homes?

The Social Welfare Act, the Public Services Act, and the Companies Act. 

2. Is the care home operator required to have a presence in the local jurisdiction?

Yes, an operator must either: (i) establish a social welfare institution (which is as a rule incorporated by state or local authorities, but can be established by a legal or natural person); or (ii) act as a social welfare service provider (in the form of an entrepreneur, company, association, or other organization form allowed by Serbian law). 

As explained above, the care home must be: (i) a social welfare institution; or (ii) a social welfare service provider.

4. How are the governing bodies of the care home regulated? 

If the care home is incorporated as a social welfare institution it must have the following governing bodies:

  • Management Board
  • Supervisory Board, and
  • Director.   

Governing bodies of a social welfare service provider depend on its form of incorporation.

5. Is a concession or approval by any regulatory authority required to open a care home?

No concession is required to open a care home; however, social welfare services are adequate for a PPP. 

A care home may perform its activity only based on a licence issued by the ministry. 

The conditions that must be fulfilled in order to obtain the licence are:

  1. registration of the care home;
  2. fulfilment of standards re. location, personnel, equipment, space, organization, etc.
  3. provision of social welfare services for two years.

If a care home does not fulfil the conditions under point 3 (i.e. if a home is only starting operations in Serbia) and/or only partially meets conditions under point 2, it can obtain a limited licence for its operation. 

6. Is a care home restricted in the performance of activities on the local market?

If the care home is incorporated as a social welfare institution, then it may only perform specific social services. 

If the care home is incorporated by a social welfare service provider as a company in accordance to the Companies Act, there are no restrictions. 

7. Are there any restrictions on how care homes may use their profits?

No.

8. Does the government provide any type of subsidy?

The fee payable to a publicly owned care home could be partially or entirely subsidized from public funds. The subsidy depends on the socio-economic status of the customer. 

The ministry has also started subsidizing fees for privately-owned care homes. The subsidies are only applicable to the privately-owned homes that have participated in the public tender and concluded an agreement with the Ministry. The fees are subsidized for users who have been on a waiting list of a publicly owned care home and are considered economically vulnerable. The exact amount of the subsidy depends on the socio-economic status of the user.

9. Is there a supervisory authority in relation to the activities of the care home?

Yes. The Ministry for Social Affairs. 

10. What is the number of inhabitants?

6.945 million (source: World Bank)

11. What is the number of inhabitants older than 65 (in %)?

18.74% (source: World Bank)

12. What is the number of care homes?

213

13. Is there a waiting list?

1 year (for publicly owned care homes)

14. What institutions regulate and monitor the health and social care services?

N/A