More and more people in Serbia are unable to pay debts to banks and utility companies, and debt forgiveness could only happen if the state makes a social map, writes Serbian Daily ‘Vecernje Novosti’.
Only for electricity people in Serbia owe RSD 1.1 billion, while Serbia has more than 600,000 users of permanent or temporary cash assistance, in which, however, not all endangered are included, because, as it is stated, at least 750,000 people are living in extreme poverty.
According to statistics, about 140,000 live in destitution, and every second citizen under the age of 25 is unemployed, while there are more and more poor people in the category of those who are employed, writes ‘Vecernje Novosti’.
According to the Credit Bureau of the Association of Serbian Banks, every citizen owes to banks and leasing companies about 837 euros, of which loans account for 749 euros, overdrafts 35 euros, 47 euros for credit cards and for leasing services about six euros.
Although Serbian residents are the least indebted in Europe, the increase in the number of credits that can not be returned is worrying.
The overall level of non-performing loans exceeded ten percent, and about 120,000 more people can not repay their installments.
In Serbia, there is no personal bankruptcy, and the country so far had very little interference in bank operations.
Serbia has never implemented any administrative measure, such as, for example, restrictions on interest rates or debt forgiveness for the poorest residents, the daily writes.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic previously agreed that there is a segment of the population which can not pay their debts.
“It is necessary to first create a social map, so we can do something. Only on the basis of social cards we could talk about writing off debts or other measures to help over-indebted citizens,” Mihajlovic said.
In Serbia, according to official statistics, every fourth citizen, or 1.8 million people, live below the poverty line, while experts believe that Serbia has no people and money for the development of the long-announced social map, even though officials announce preparation of a new strategy for the fight against poverty. The latest data of the Republic Statistical Office (RSO) say that the rate of poverty in Serbia is 24.6 per cent, placing it on the first place among the poorest countries of Europe.
“State does not have the institutions, mechanisms, resources or personnel, and above all, the political will to list the assets of such citizens. No one knows who would care about these people, which social institutions, public or private. We already see that profit came in many of these areas,” – Dr. Nada Novakovic from the Institute of Social Sciences told Tanjug. She added that, even if we come to the social maps, the result would be to allocate scarce resources only to the most vulnerable.
After myocardial infarction, patients must pay from 3,000 to 4,000 dinars per month for medications. For individuals who suffer from chronic diseases and are constantly under treatment, participation for medications is a major expense, since for some of them they need to pay 1,500 dinars per box. For pensioners it is sometimes half of their pension.
Sinisa Trajkovic from a private pharmacy in Vranje says they sell the most on the day when salaries and pensions are paid. He adds that medications are bought per pill.
Some pharmacies sell medications on delayed payment, via checks and installments.
Unfortunately, there are also people who choose to economize on health. This is confirmed by doctors and pharmacists. In clinics, patients are increasingly refusing treatment for which medications cost too much.
In some cities medications can be bought on the green market. They are sold at lower prices than at the pharmacy. Experts warn that it is not a good thing to buy them because it is not known in which conditions they were held, even if they have a good shelf life
Only for electricity people in Serbia owe RSD 1.1 billion, while Serbia has more than 600,000 users of permanent or temporary cash assistance, in which, however, not all endangered are included, because, as it is stated, at least 750,000 people are living in extreme poverty.
According to statistics, about 140,000 live in destitution, and every second citizen under the age of 25 is unemployed, while there are more and more poor people in the category of those who are employed, writes ‘Vecernje Novosti’.
According to the Credit Bureau of the Association of Serbian Banks, every citizen owes to banks and leasing companies about 837 euros, of which loans account for 749 euros, overdrafts 35 euros, 47 euros for credit cards and for leasing services about six euros.
Although Serbian residents are the least indebted in Europe, the increase in the number of credits that can not be returned is worrying.
The overall level of non-performing loans exceeded ten percent, and about 120,000 more people can not repay their installments.
In Serbia, there is no personal bankruptcy, and the country so far had very little interference in bank operations.
Serbia has never implemented any administrative measure, such as, for example, restrictions on interest rates or debt forgiveness for the poorest residents, the daily writes.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic previously agreed that there is a segment of the population which can not pay their debts.
“It is necessary to first create a social map, so we can do something. Only on the basis of social cards we could talk about writing off debts or other measures to help over-indebted citizens,” Mihajlovic said.
In Serbia, according to official statistics, every fourth citizen, or 1.8 million people, live below the poverty line, while experts believe that Serbia has no people and money for the development of the long-announced social map, even though officials announce preparation of a new strategy for the fight against poverty. The latest data of the Republic Statistical Office (RSO) say that the rate of poverty in Serbia is 24.6 per cent, placing it on the first place among the poorest countries of Europe.
“State does not have the institutions, mechanisms, resources or personnel, and above all, the political will to list the assets of such citizens. No one knows who would care about these people, which social institutions, public or private. We already see that profit came in many of these areas,” – Dr. Nada Novakovic from the Institute of Social Sciences told Tanjug. She added that, even if we come to the social maps, the result would be to allocate scarce resources only to the most vulnerable.
Buying medicament one pill at the time
Because of poverty, patients are forced to seek half a box of necessary medication in pharmacies, and ask for delayed payment and payment via month installments. Pharmacists say that mostly pensioners buy medications this way, but because of low salaries, even employed population often can not buy them, RTS reports.After myocardial infarction, patients must pay from 3,000 to 4,000 dinars per month for medications. For individuals who suffer from chronic diseases and are constantly under treatment, participation for medications is a major expense, since for some of them they need to pay 1,500 dinars per box. For pensioners it is sometimes half of their pension.
Sinisa Trajkovic from a private pharmacy in Vranje says they sell the most on the day when salaries and pensions are paid. He adds that medications are bought per pill.
Some pharmacies sell medications on delayed payment, via checks and installments.
Unfortunately, there are also people who choose to economize on health. This is confirmed by doctors and pharmacists. In clinics, patients are increasingly refusing treatment for which medications cost too much.
In some cities medications can be bought on the green market. They are sold at lower prices than at the pharmacy. Experts warn that it is not a good thing to buy them because it is not known in which conditions they were held, even if they have a good shelf life
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