American Society of Hirudotherapy

Agencija za lekove i medicinska sredstva Srbije — Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia

ALIMS · Serbia · europe

Regulatory jurisdiction profileJurisdictional reference
Unregulatednational regulator

Serbia's Medicines and Medical Devices Agency — leech-specific regulatory pathway has not been independently verified by ASH; medicinal leeches fall under the general national pharmaceutical and medical device framework as appropriate.

Regulatory Profile

Agency type
national regulator
Region
europe
Country
Serbia
Leech status
unregulated
Last ASH review
2026-05-26

Relevant Regulation Codes

  • Serbian Law on Medicines and Medical Devices (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No. 30/2010, as amended)
  • Serbian national medical device regulatory framework — progressively aligned with EU MDR 2017/745

Prescriber Requirements

  • Serbian Medical Chamber–registered physician — order required for any biomedical device application
  • Allied health professional application under physician supervision per institutional protocol

Supply Chain & GMP

ALIMS registration as applicable; Serbian-language labelling. Standard cold-chain conditions; alignment with EU MDR is progressively advancing under EU accession negotiations.

Import/Export Rules

ALIMS and Ministry of Health import authorisation; veterinary services clearance for live invertebrates; CITES Appendix II paperwork for Hirudo medicinalis / verbana.

Reimbursement Context

Republic Fund for Health Insurance (RFZO) coverage depends on inpatient bundling; outpatient hirudotherapy is generally not separately reimbursed.

ASH Editorial Notes

Leech-specific pathway not independently verified by ASH; falls under general medical device / traditional medicine framework as appropriate. As an EU candidate country, Serbia is progressively aligning with EU MDR; whether this includes specific guidance on live-organism medical devices has not been independently mapped by ASH.

Related Jurisdictions

This website provides educational information and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Medicinal leech therapy carries clinically meaningful risks and should be performed only by qualified clinicians under institutionally approved protocols. FDA 510(k) clearance for medicinal leeches is limited to specific indications; investigational and off-label discussions are labeled accordingly. For patient-specific guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider.