Parents of babies allergic to cow's milk wait for weeks for anti-allergic milk, due to shortages in pharmacies.
In the "Kruševac" pharmacy, the only one where such milk can be picked up by prescription, two days ago they only had six boxes. Each baby up to half a year old should receive five boxes of anti-allergic milk per month at the expense of the Health Fund.
A mother whose baby is allergic to cow's milk told "Vijesti" that the employees of the state pharmacy explained to her that they receive small amounts of anti-allergic milk.
"For weeks in the past months, my husband and I tried unsuccessfully to raise it at the Kruševac pharmacy. It was explained to us that small quantities arrive, which is why it goes quickly," she said.
A box of baby food, depending on the manufacturer, costs from 20 to 24 euros in private pharmacies, which means that parents have to spend up to 100 euros a month. However, it often happens that there is not enough anti-allergy milk even in private pharmacies.
"It is quite a large amount of money, which we are forced to pay because we have no other choice," said one mother.
She explained that the Health Fund covers the costs for children under six months, with a confirmation from "Montefarm's" pharmacy that there was no milk that day. The Fund does not reimburse expenses for children older than half a year.
"There is quite a long wait for the reimbursement of expenses, so hardly any of the parents deal with it, and the situation is further complicated by the fact that the prescription of the chosen pediatrician is valid for 15 days, so due to the shortage, we constantly have to renew the prescription," she said.
According to the fund, there are only five people with allergies in Montenegro
The director of "Montefarm" Budimir Stanišić told "Vijesta" that, according to the order of the Fund, they are delivering 230 boxes of anti-allergic milk for the whole of Montenegro in nine months. Considering that one baby needs 45 cartons in nine months, this practically means that only five children in the entire country are allergic to cow's milk.
Yesterday, the Fund could not answer how many babies in Montenegro are allergic to cow's milk, that is, how many of them use anti-allergy, promising to do so today. Stanišić confirmed that baby food can only be obtained on prescription at the "Kruševac" pharmacy.
"These are small amounts and it would be completely irrational to distribute them to ten pharmacies in Podgorica. This milk can also be found in Berane, Nikšić, Kotor, Tivat and Bar", said Stanišić".
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