◎魏國金

A ban on grumpiness, gossiping, mini-skirts and rudeness is what the doctor orders to improve patient care in Serbia’s hospitals, according to new rules issued by the country’s Health Ministry.

根據塞爾維亞衛生部發佈的新規則，不得脾氣暴躁、不可說長道短、不可穿迷你裙與沒禮貌，是醫生為提升塞國醫院病患照護水準而下的指示。

The rules, posted on the ministry’s Web site, say staff are not allowed to criticize their hospital or their superiors, and should not accept gifts for their services. Hospital staff are often bribed with cash or gifts for attention or better treatment. "There needs to be ground rules for decency," a ministry spokesman said.

張貼在衛生部網站的新規則指出，醫院職員不准批評自家醫院或上司，並且不應該因他們的服務而接受餽贈。醫院職員通常接受現金或禮物賄賂，而給予病患照料或較佳的醫治。「這必須成為行為準則，」衛生部一名發言人說。

Serbia’s public health system crumbled during the conflicts of the 1990s, with patients’ relatives having to provide everything from bandages and antibiotics to food. Funding improved as stability returned but bribery, often involving hundreds of euros, is still widespread.

塞爾維亞的公衛體系在1990年代的內戰期間崩解，病患家屬必須準備從繃帶、抗生素到食物等所有物品。時局恢復穩定後，醫療體系獲得的經費雖有改善，然而行情往往達數百歐元的賄賂仍然猖獗。