Serbia is a country in Southeastern Europe with a population of about 6.7 million and a relatively high life expectancy. Like many other countries in the region, its healthcare system faces a significant burden from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. People are living with chronic conditions that require not only treatment but also long-term support aimed at maintaining quality of life—often for many years. In this context, palliative care becomes an essential part of the healthcare system.

Regrettably, the development of palliative care in Serbia remains inconsistent. Care for individuals with serious illnesses is formally included in the general healthcare system, but its quality mostly depends on specific institutions, teams, and individual professionals. The availability and range of services can differ greatly across regions. In such circumstances, professional initiatives, sharing of practices, and the growth of interdisciplinary approaches to supporting patients and their families become particularly important.

We visited the state home-based palliative care service in Belgrade. The team mainly supports individuals with cancer who prefer to stay at home. The organisation is clear and practical: it includes a dedicated telephone line, mobile teams, electronic prescriptions, and doctors who always carry a basic set of essential medications. At the same time, professionals openly acknowledge ongoing challenges—such as the lack of a unified registry and reliable statistics, a limited range of available medication formulations, and persistent opioidophobia among some healthcare workers.

Staff shortages continue to be one of the most visible issues for colleagues in Serbia. Due to a lack of specialists, establishing a fully multidisciplinary team is rarely possible—social and psychological support are largely absent within the public system. Often, one person must assume several roles simultaneously: clinical, coordination, and educational. Furthermore, palliative care in the country still lacks a clear educational or professional pathway. There are only a few specialised physicians, and training typically occurs through individual courses and seminars. There is also a separate field of pain therapy, but it does not fully address the need for a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach.

The following day, we met with representatives from various institutions involved in palliative care and professional training in the Institute of Public Health of Belgrade. The discussion naturally extended beyond a single service to cover the entire system. As in many other countries, palliative care in Serbia is seldom seen as an attractive career choice for young professionals. We also recognised a common challenge: engaging with government structures, where regulatory changes tend to be slow.