THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES OPEN CONFERENCE ON HEALTH STRATEGIC ISSUES IN SERBIA

Belgrade, 26 June 2009 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine and Mrs Alison Andrews, daughter of Princess Katherine, attended today a conference on strategic issues for the development of the health Sector in the Republic of Serbia organized by Tsomokos Group International (TGI) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade.

While opening this important conference HRH Crown Princes Katherine emphasized in her speech that: ”Serbia is currently going through transition with its Health Care System and therefore meetings like this are very important because they give the opportunity to compare experiences with other countries from the region as well as Europe”. Her Highness also pointed out her hopes that this meeting will bring results that could be implemented immediately in every day practice, so all patients in Serbia will have substantial benefits soon. Princess Katherine thanked General Sponsors - Alapis Company for being so very kind to support this event.

A welcome remark was delivered by Mr. Michael Kyriakides, Special Consultant of Operational & Managerial Processes in Alapis Company while the keynote speaker was Doc. Dr. Nevena Karanovic, State Secretary for Health in the Ministry of Health of Serbia.

Speeches were also delivered by: Dr. Elizabeta Ristanović, Deputy Director of Military Medical Academy (VMA); Dr. Jasmina Knezevic, Director of Bel Medica; Prof. Goran Petkovic, State Secretary for Tourism in the Ministry of Economy, Mr. Leonidas Korres, Special Secretary for Public Private Partnerships at Ministry of Economy of Greece, Mrs. Dana Burduja, International Finance Corporation from Romania; Mr. Vladislav Cvetkovic, Deputy Director of the Privatization Agency of the Republic of Serbia; Mr. Takis Zervakakis, Regional Managing Director Wyeth & Secretary General of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical companies (SfEE); Prof. Zlata Zuvela, Director of the Pharmaceutical Chamber of Serbia; Mt. Dragomir Marisavljevic, Vice President of Hemofarm Group and President of the Pharmaceutical Producers Association and Mr. John Georgakopoulos, Senior Director of the Alapis and General Director of Sumadijalek.

Topics at the conference were: The status of the Health Sector of Serbia, Plans for Improvement and Development in the times of economic crises; Challenges for the improvement of the Hospital System of Serbia; Public Private Partnerships (PPP) as a tool to develop the Health Sector in Serbia; The Privatization process in the Health Sector; The role of Pharmaceutical Research and Development in current and future unmet patient needs and its contribution to the social and economic welfare of Serbia; The Pharmaceutical Sector.