NALED Initiatives: Overview of Regulatory Changes and Reforms

We are pleased to inform you of recent regulatory changes and reforms that NALED has actively contributed to trough direct professional and advisory support, facilitating coordination within Government working groups and collaborating with institutions to devise effective solutions.

Significant developments pertain to the laws ratified by the National Assembly on October 26, 2023:

1. The Law on Health Documentation and Records introduced the eKarton system, a centralized repository encompassing all health-related information. Additionally, it establishes a registry for genetic and biomedical data. This advancement promises enhanced treatment efficacy by integrating data from both private and public sectors, ultimately fostering the evolution of personalized medicine.
2. Health Insurance Act forths a significant improvement for our members. It mandates that the calculation of wage compensation to be handled by the RFZO, replacing the previous practice where employers performed this calculation for employees unable to work for over 30 days themselves, and then the RFZO repeated the same proceduree leading to delays and inaccuracies in sick pay reimbursements to employers. Furthermore, this adjustment lays the groundwork for the forthcoming electronic system, eBolovanje, slated for launch in May 2024.
3. The Law on Public Procurement has incorporated our longstanding suggestion to mandate the consideration of criteria beyond just price, with a focus on quality, especially for service categories like computer program development, architectural and engineering services, advisory, and translation services. The addition of Article 134a to the Law on Public Procurement has established a legal framework for the enactment of a by-law, outlining green procurement practices. This includes defining specific types of goods, services, and works for which contracting authorities are obligated to incorporate environmental considerations. The Law amendments introduce the establishment of a database on the Public Procurement Portal. This database, in addition to encompassing information on all contracts and their modifications within public procurement processes, will also include data on contracts or orders for procurements falling below the thresholds defined by the Law. This development promises to greatly enhance transparency and facilitate more robust monitoring of the legality surrounding the allocation of public funds.
   

Furthermore, through an amendment to the Regulation on flat-rate taxation, the Government of Serbia has extended the cap on tax base increments for flat-rate taxpayers, allowing for an annual increase of no more than 10 percent until the end of 2025. This measure aims to ensure the predictability of business expenses for 120,000 lump-sum payers and to incentivize the continuation of operations within legal parameters, which is particularly crucial during times of crisis and elevated inflation, such as the present. A noteworthy update for new entrepreneurs is the 50% reduction in the tax base, a significant increase from the previous 20%. The flat rate reform initiative, initially launched in 2019, also introduced an online tax obligation calculator, initiated by and with the support of NALED.

We extend our gratitude to all NALED members for their support, with special recognition to our esteemed NALED patrons, the Healthcare Alliance and the Fair Competition Alliance. Additionally, as well as to our donors, with particular acknowledgment to SIDA, UNDP, and USAID for their outstanding contributions. Looking ahead, we remain committed to working and offering our support in the implementation of these solutions.

Together we make a difference!