Analyzes of pap smears at the Department of Pathology of the Clinical Center of Montenegro are awaited from 15 days to two months, the head of the Department of Pathology of the Clinical Center of Montenegro, Assoc. Dr. Filip Vukmirović.
These are simple tests that can be completed in a couple of hours. However, if they are performed by the Pathology Department of the Clinical Center in Podgorica, the only institution, besides the Bjelo Polje hospital, that performs these analyzes in Montenegro at the expense of the state, the wait for the results may take some time.
"Findings that gynecologists indicate are urgent are completed within seven days," said Vukmirović.
In the region, these analyzes are mostly done in numerous laboratories, so there is no waiting for the results.
It is not uncommon, however, that the selected gynecologists themselves, seeing the problem with long waiting times for tests, send patients to private doctors, where they receive the results the next day.
Vukmirović confirms that Pathology is overbooked. He reminds that between 5.000 and 6.000 such analyzes are performed annually at the Department of Pathology.
"Since May of this year, the pilot screening program for cervical cancer has started in the municipalities of Podgorica, Budva, Rožaje and Danilovgrad, the basis of which is a gynecological examination with the taking and examination of Pap smears. In accordance with that, more than 1.500 Pap analyzes from this project were performed at our Department, which significantly increased the number of analyses," noted Vukmirović.
Given that the project is expected to be extended to the whole of Montenegro, Vukmirović says that the scope of this type of analysis will certainly be greatly increased.
"There are four pathologists working at the Department of Pathology, which is insufficient for the existing scope of work, which includes the analysis of biopsies and cytological preparations both from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Montenegro and from most other health institutions in Montenegro. These days, we expect the admission of doctors to start specialization in pathology, which lasts five years", said Vukmirović.
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