"We're starting and will improve as we go" – Health centers in Serbia will begin night shifts starting tonight

Aleksandar Stojanović, director of the Palilula Health Center, told Tanjug that the night shifts will be introduced in health centers in Voždovac, Vračar, Zvezdara, Zemun, Novi Beograd, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski Venac, Stari Grad, Čukarica, Surčin, Kragujevac, as well as in Niš and Novi Sad.

According to Stojanović, 24-hour shifts will not be implemented in smaller towns with fewer residents.

He explained that the new 8 PM to 7 AM shift is intended for patients whose condition does not require an emergency center, but who still need medical attention during the evening and night.

“People who develop health issues in the afternoon, such as fever, high blood sugar, heart palpitations, or low oxygen levels, will be able to visit health centers after 8 PM until the morning,” he said.

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Who will be on duty?

Stojanović emphasized that the on-duty team will include one general practitioner, two nurses, and a lab technician to take tests if the doctor deems them necessary.

He also noted that, specifically for the Palilula Health Center, the 24-hour service will initially cover the health centers in Knez Danilova and Borča, and the schedules for the next two weeks have already been prepared.

“Patients who are not in life-threatening condition no longer have to go to the emergency center and wait in line with urgent cases. This is a real benefit for patients, so they can feel safer knowing that a doctor is available even after 8 p.m.,” the Tanjug source said.

The director of the Palilula Health Center stressed that this is just the beginning and that over the next two weeks they will analyze how many patients come after 8 p.m. until morning and what ailments they have, announcing that on December 1 he will meet with the Minister of Health to present the first results.

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“Step by step”

“We are going step by step. Every night we will carry out analyses, and only after the first results can we discuss adjusting certain things and possibly involving specialized services,” said Stojanović.

He emphasized that for now, the priority is to get the system running and ensure that citizens are properly informed about where they can seek help.

“You don’t know the path until you start. We are beginning, and then we will improve,” concluded the director of the Palilula Health Center.

The decision to introduce 24-hour operation in health centers across Serbia starting Monday, November 17, was made by the Ministry of Health with the goal of increasing the accessibility of healthcare for citizens and ensuring more efficient functioning of the health system.

As previously announced by the ministry, they have provided all necessary conditions for implementing this measure — from staffing reinforcements and organizing shifts to technical and logistical support.

“Our goal is for healthcare to be available to every citizen of Serbia, at any time of day or night, in a safe environment and with professional support from healthcare workers. This is an important step toward creating a modern and efficient health system that provides security for citizens and better working conditions for healthcare professionals,” said Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar.