Šumice Health Center's Millions in Reconstruction Yields Crumbling Building Amid Blame Game

The health center in Šumice, Belgrade, a facility serving approximately 25,000 patients including 7,000 children, is in a state of severe disrepair. Citizens visiting the clinic describe the conditions as "a disaster" and "awful," citing crumbling walls and a general lack of upkeep that is unsuitable for a medical institution.

Despite a reported 16 million dinars invested in its reconstruction in 2019, with the city contributing 10 million, the interior of the building reportedly suffers from moldy walls and neglected facilities, a stark contrast to its outwardly renovated appearance. The Pokret slobodnih građana (Free Citizens' Movement) has pointed to this neglect, with councilor Stefan Simić stating that the city government does not prioritize primary healthcare facilities.

Responsibility for the building's upkeep appears to be a point of contention between different levels of government. The City of Belgrade's Secretariat for Health claims that founding rights over health centers were transferred to the Serbian government in 2020, leaving them without planned funds for the Šumice branch's reconstruction. Simić counters that the city government's disinterest is further evidenced by the absence of a dedicated city secretary for health since June 2024.

Attempts by N1 to obtain comment from the Voždovac Health Center and the Ministry of Health, including requests for filming permits and interviews, were unsuccessful, leaving the situation unresolved and the building's future uncertain.

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Sekretarijat za zdravstvo Grada Beograda nije svestan ni samog svog postojanja, zato što, postao sam odbornik 2024. godine u junu, tada je formirana i trenutna gradska vlast, od toga dana do današnjeg dana Grad Beograd nema sekretara za zdravstvo. To pokazuje još jedan odnos same gradske vlasti prema zdravstvu u Beogradu.