Serbia has implemented a broad reduction in patient cost-sharing for prescription medicines, followed two weeks later by an expansion of subsidised access. The measures move beyond a routine reimbursement-list update by changing co-payment levels across 769 medicines.
The Government approved a revised reimbursed medicines list and changes to maximum medicine prices on 30 July. The Republic Health Insurance Fund (Republički fond za zdravstveno osiguranje, RFZO) applied the new list from 1 August.
The main change affects 769 products on List A1 across 12 therapeutic groups. Medicines previously carrying co-payments of 15–45% now have a uniform 10% patient contribution. Products previously requiring 50–90% co-payment have had that contribution reduced by 40 percentage points. Patient shares therefore now range from 10% to 50%, compared with a previous maximum of 90%.
Prime Minister Đuro Macut said the measure would remain in place for at least 12 months and could affect around three million people.
A second stage took effect on 17 August. Sixteen oral anticoagulant medicines and two heart-failure medicines became available on prescription under expanded List A1 coverage. The state now finances 70% of the anticoagulant cost and around 50% of the heart-failure medicines.
The accompanying maximum-price decision also enabled 145 additional prescription products to enter the Serbian market, including innovative and generic medicines.
The package shifts a material share of outpatient medicine costs from patients to compulsory health insurance while widening the range of therapies available under subsidised prescribing.
Source: Government of the Republic of Serbia
Link: Више приступачних и доступних лекова показатељ системске бриге државе о здрављу грађана (More affordable and accessible medicines demonstrate the state’s systemic care for citizens’ health)
Date: 1 August 2026
Source: Ministry of Health
Link: Лончар упутио допис директорима здравствених установа да радницима укажу на проширењеЛисте(Lončar instructs healthcare institution directors to inform staff about expansion of the medicines list)
Date: 17 August 2026
Source: Government of the Republic of Serbia
Link: Влада усвојила више закона ради усклађивања домаћег законодавства са правним тековинамаЕУ(Government adopts several bills to align domestic legislation with the EU acquis)
Date: 30 July 2026
