The work of the Association of Music Therapists of Serbia has contributed to the fact that, music therapy is recognized in Serbia as a health service in the field of classical medicine, paid by the Republic Health Insurance Fund at the secondary and tertiary levels of health care and music therapists are recognizes as allied health profession.
CURRENT LEGAL REGULATIONS REGARDING MUSIC THERAPY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
MUSIC THERAPY AS A HEALTH SERVICE
Rulebook on the nomenclature of health services at the secondary and tertiary level of health care "Official Gazette of RS", No. 107/05, 109/05 - correction and 57/11, no. 70/2019)
MUSIC THERAPY IS PAID FROM THE STATE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND
Rulebook on the prices of health services at the secondary and tertiary level of health care "Official Gazette of RS", no. 55/2019
MUSIC THERAPY AS AN ASSOCIATED HEALTH PROFESSION
Decision on a unique cypher codes for entering and encrypting data in records in the field of work ("Official Gazette of RS", No. 56/2018)
PARADOX
PROFESSIONAL MUSIC THERAPISTS EXIST, THE SERVICE EXISTS, IT IS PAID BY THE REPUBLIC FUND OF HEALTH INSURANCE, PATIENTS CANNOT GET THE SERVICE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO EMPLOYED MUSIC THERAPISTS IN THE STATE INSTITUTIONS
In order to further faster development of music therapy, it is necessary to pass the Law on Music Therapy, which will determine and protect the status of professional music therapists AMTS, contribute to the faster development and implementation of music therapy in the country, as well as prevent abuse.
That is why in November 2019 the Association of Music Therapists of Serbia gave the Ministry of Health a draft Law on Music Therapy with a request to form a working group to continue working on the Law.
What does the state gain by passing the Law on Music Therapy?
Application of music therapy under the auspices of health care, social protection and education
Significant savings for the National Health Insurance Fund.
Prevention of music therapy abuse and clients protection.
Prevention of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders, addiction diseases and antisocial disorders
Regulating music therapy education
Establishment of a chamber of professional music therapists by the state
Regulation and control of the work of professional music therapists by the state
Destigmatization and humanization of specific institutions.
Support the process of inclusion.
What do professional music therapists gain by passing the Law on Music Therapy?
They become a deficient profession and get a wide range of job positions and institutions where they can be employed as equal team members.
Development and protection of professional identity.
Development of music therapy as a science.
WHY DO WE NEED THE LAW ON MUSIC THERAPY?
People who do not have any education in music therapy are represented as music therapists
As music therapists are persons who do not have a valid license, i.e. completed education in music therapy
Music therapy is abused as a sound therapy and education is offered by unqualified or semi-qualified people.
Clinically unproven “methods”, “therapeutic discs, computer applications, musical / sound instruments” are sold and applied.
Scientific works and publications of "pseudo-music therapists" and their mentors are published
Healthcare institutions charge for music therapy services that they provide, even though they do not have trained music therapists.
RHIF RS is aware of the abuse and charging for music therapy services by some health institutions that do not employ educated music therapists, so as a solution it devalued the price of music therapy services compared to the previous price, instead of suspending payments to these institutions and thus enable the employment of trained music therapists
Patients / clients cannot receive a music therapy service or receive it from unqualified persons which compromises their health.
Lack of educated staff reduces the quality of health and social care, disables the implementation of prevention programs, slows down the process of inclusion and destigmatization in schools and society.
Numerous health and social care institutions, as well as schools, are seeking the engagements of professional music therapists.
Professional music therapists have been volunteering for years, leading to burnout syndrome.
Professional music therapists go abroad.
Professional music therapists are giving up and doing other work.
Candidates study music therapy abroad and do not return to the country or seek “ad hoc” solutions and return with "diplomas" of short MT educations from abroad.
Despite many years of efforts, Hatorum's music therapy education program under the auspices of AMTS has not been accepted by the University, which slow research in the field of music therapy and further professional development of trained music therapists, and prevents the acquisition of academic titles in music therapy, the establishment of music therapy institutes, as well as access to innovation funds and research funds.
The state and other sources finance the projects of self-proclaimed, uneducated music therapists in our country.
Some media support the abuse of music therapy, confuse citizens and the professionals by presenting uneducated music therapists and their activity as music therapy.
O UMTS
The Association of Music Therapists of Serbia (AMTS) was founded on June 27, 2001 in Belgrade on the initiative of Dr. Ranka Radulović and her closest friends and associates.
Member of the European Music Therapy Confederation since 2004.
