Montenegro announces 4.5 million euro healthcare infrastructure plan

Montenegro's Minister of Health, Vojislav Šimun, has announced five new healthcare infrastructure projects for the upcoming year, totaling approximately 4.5 million euros. These investments are included in the proposed capital budget for 2027 and aim to modernize medical facilities and improve service quality across various regions.

The planned projects include: - Adaptation of the KBC Berane maternity ward to the ‘Baby Friendly’ system (981,700 euros). - Adaptation of the emergency medical service at Bijelo Polje General Hospital (994,000 euros). - Adaptation of the Mojkovac Health Center (760,000 euros). - Adaptation of the ‘Danilo I’ maternity ward in Cetinje (650,000 euros). - Reconstruction of the Tivat Health Center medical pavilion (1.1 million euros).

While the Ministry emphasizes these long-term investments in system resilience, political figures have raised concerns regarding current service efficiency. Dejan Mešter, president of the Podgorica committee of the Pokret narodnog povjerenja (PNP), criticized the existing state of healthcare, noting long waiting times for diagnostic exams like MRI and CT scans. He also highlighted concerns regarding a reported 50 percent rate of missed appointments, suggesting that infrastructure investment must be accompanied by better organizational management to ensure patients receive timely care.