Serbia to introduce caregiver status for parents of children with rare diseases

Serbia's Minister for Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski, has announced the introduction of a formal caregiver parent status to support families dealing with rare diseases.

Starting October 1, parents of children who are recipients of increased allowances for foreign care and assistance can apply for this status. Once documentation is processed, which takes approximately 15 days, parents will effectively enter an employment relationship. This includes a monthly allowance of 65,000 dinars, with the state covering taxes and contributions. Additionally, these caregivers will gain rights to pension, disability, and health insurance.

Speaking at the 7th Regional Conference on Rare Diseases organized by the National Organization for Rare Diseases of Serbia (NORBS), the Minister emphasized that while there is no compensation for parental love, the state has an obligation to protect and support these individuals. She noted that this measure is part of a broader policy to develop community services and ensure that families facing rare diseases are not left to manage alone.