The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved a loan of 83 million euros to Montenegro to support the Government's Health Strategy for the period 2023-2027.
In addition to this health loan, the CEB has also approved a microfinance project worth 10 million euros, which aims to expand financial inclusion for vulnerable population groups.
The Council of Europe said that the loan was approved during the annual Joint Meeting organized by the Government of Montenegro in Budva. It was announced that the key infrastructure projects to be financed by this 83 million euro loan include the construction of completely new facilities to improve health services throughout Montenegro:
- General Hospital in Pljevlja, which will replace outdated existing facilities and serve as the main health center for the northern region of the country; - Health Center in the City Quarter neighborhood in Podgorica, which aims to improve primary health care in the capital; - Hematology Clinic within the Clinical Center of Montenegro in Podgorica, which will enable wider access to specialized health care;
In addition to infrastructure, the project will support the modernization of the healthcare system at the national level, including investments in state-of-the-art medical equipment – such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and computed tomography (CT) scanners, the statement said.
Minister of Health Vojislav Šimun said that the impact that these projects will have on the citizens of Montenegro is immeasurable – both in the domain of primary and secondary healthcare, as well as in modern diagnostics.
"A particularly important segment is the construction of the Hematology Clinic and the introduction of PET-CT diagnostics within this project, given that Montenegro currently does not have its own PET-CT scanner and that patients are referred abroad for diagnostics. With this project, we are laying the foundations for a modern, accessible and high-quality healthcare system in our country," said Šimun.
CEB Governor Carlo Monticelli said that the approved loan clearly demonstrates CEB's strong commitment to improving access to quality healthcare for all citizens of Montenegro. "By financing modern medical infrastructure and digital solutions, we are helping to build a more resilient and inclusive healthcare system," said Monticelli.
These modernization measures will strengthen Montenegro's healthcare system, improve service delivery and address existing gaps in healthcare, enabling it to respond to the changing needs of the population. They will also improve working conditions for medical workers, facilitating the provision of better quality services.
CEB incorporates a so-called "vulnerability perspective" into all its investment projects to ensure that vulnerable and underrepresented population groups – including low-income households, rural communities, displaced persons and people with disabilities – also benefit. "This strengthens social equality and cohesion in Montenegro through better access to healthcare," CEB said.
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