Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS)
Institute of Public Health of Serbia (IPHS)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Institute of Public Health of Serbia - Department for methodological principles and standards of integrated health information system and reporting
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Dr Subotica 5, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
20 May 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 January 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
20 May 2025
3.1. Data description
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
3.2. Classification system
For the collection of data on healthcare non- expenditure, the classifications used in the System of Health Accounts (SHA) and its related set of International Classification for the Health Accounts are applied.
For Health Employment, the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications apply.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
Where possible, the statistics are separated by sex (male/female), age group and NUTS2 region.
National deviations: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Public health.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
Joint Questionnaire on Non-Monetary Health Care Statistics, which is carried by Eurostat, OECD and WHO-Europe.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
National level:
Confidentiality of the data is regulated with the official statistics law, rulebook on statistical data protection in the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia and guidelines on measures of data and information protection in SORS.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The handling of data is regulated by the rulebook on the method of using and providing the data produced by the Statistical office of the Republic of Serbia.
The data are published on the SORS and IPHS website and in the SORS and IPHS publications in accordance with the adopted Publishing Policy, and according to the Calendar of Publications.
8.2. Release calendar access
Calendar of releases is available at SORS website.
The data obtained from health statistical surveys, are published in accordance with publishing policy on the SORS and IPHS website, in statistical releases, publications and in the database.
On request, the access to microdata is ensured to scientific and research institutions.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The method of recording and the content of data sets are defined by the methodological instructions created by IPHS.
For the comprehensive metadata of each variable, see the Annex at the bottom of the page.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS), which is the standard for quality reporting, is published in the Eurostat Database for every variable pertaining to the Joint, non-Monetary Health Care questionnaire, as from reference year 2021.
11.1. Quality assurance
The health data are based on a regulation, which defines scope, definitions of variables and characteristics of the data.
There are clear and detailed guidelines for recording and reporting data on healthcare resources, and healthcare utilisation.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not available.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users of statistical data are: governmental institutions, NGOs, scientific and research institutions, universities, individual requests, agencies and national organizations, international organizations, press etc.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS), in its work, strives to understand the users of the official statistics - who they are, why and how they use statistical data, what their needs are and what challenges they face when using official statistics data. Presenting the data in a clear, efficient and user-friendly way, in order to simplify their comprehension and use, is the basic goal that should be met when presenting data and information of the official statistics. Aiming at receiving the feedback, SORS conducts a User Satisfaction Survey in two-year periodicity. In addition to this Survey, SORS continuously analyses user requirements, media announcements and web analytics.
All the requirements laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294 are fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
All mandatory data have a high accuracy.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
14 months after the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
14 months after the end of the reference year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Starting from 1998 the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has no available data for AP Kosovo and Metohija therefore these data are not included in the coverage for the Republic of Serbia (total).
15.2. Comparability - over time
See Annex at the bottom of the page for potential breaks in time series for each variable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Health care data on resources are also available in the database "Regional Statistics".
15.4. Coherence - internal
All data are consistent.
The cost of the data collection is covered by national budget. Burden of data collection is reduced by using validation and dissemination IT tools.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revision is possible due to change in data sources and methodology applied.
17.2. Data revision - practice
There is no systematic revision of previous year's data.
18.1. Source data
Source data for the different variables are given in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Administrative data from health institutions. The data are collected annually. The data collection is regulated by law.
18.4. Data validation
Consistency checks: comparing the statistics with previous years, investigating inconsistencies in the statistics.
18.5. Data compilation
The absolute numbers for aggregates are the sum of the data reported by health institutions.
18.6. Adjustment
Data as reported by health institutions. No adjustments are made.
See notes in the Annex at the bottom of the page for:
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
20 May 2025
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
National changes of statistical concepts and national definitions deviating from Regulation (EU) 2022/2294: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
Registered health professionals or health care facility categories.
All health care staff.
All available beds or equipment in hospitals or in nursing and residential care facilities.
All discharges or procedures performed in all hospitals.
Complete national territory
Data refer to 31st December (i.e. data on health employment) or calendar year (i.e. data on health activities).
All mandatory data have a high accuracy.
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
The absolute numbers for aggregates are the sum of the data reported by health institutions.
Source data for the different variables are given in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
Annual.
14 months after the end of the reference year.
Starting from 1998 the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has no available data for AP Kosovo and Metohija therefore these data are not included in the coverage for the Republic of Serbia (total).
See Annex at the bottom of the page for potential breaks in time series for each variable.
