In the first three months of this year, citizens used almost one and a half million prescriptions in pharmacies, and medicines and medical supplies worth around 12,5 million euros were collected.
According to the data of the Health Insurance Fund (FZO), this is about two million euros more compared to the same period last year.
In the state-run "Montefarm" pharmacies, citizens collected therapy in the amount of about 7,6 million, in private ones about 4,44 million, while medical supplies cost about 450.510 euros.
During January, February and March, about 9,5 million euros were spent on medicines in health institutions, which is 15,6 percent more than in the same period of 2019.
About 5,68 million was spent in the largest Montenegrin health institution - the Clinical Center, then more than a million in the special hospital Brezovik in Nikšić. Medicines were the least invoiced from the Institute for Blood Transfusion, about 3.024 euros, which is understandable given that they work with a healthy population. The lowest consumption of medicines among health centers is in Andrijevac, about 6.831 euros.
The consumption of medicines grows from year to year, and last year a total of over 100 million euros was spent, both on medicines that are picked up or bought in pharmacies, and on those that are given to patients in health institutions.
According to the report of the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (CALIMS), data from 14 private and one state-owned wholesale drugstore show that the consumption of medicines last year amounted to 101.072.508,09 euros.
This means that each citizen spent an average of 162,4 euros last year.
"Vijesti" previously announced that about 83,36 million euros were spent on drugs in pharmacies that can be obtained with a prescription, medical devices, as medications in hospitals and health centers last year from the budget, which is about 19 million more compared to a year earlier.
According to the FZO report, in recent years there has been an increase in the consumption of medicines, which burdens the finances of the health system, and indirectly the overall public finances.
Thus, in 2012, 37.014.470 euros were spent on medical devices and medicines that citizens receive by prescription, as well as those that are given during treatment and in health institutions.
According to the analysis, seven years later, in 2019, about 43,4 million euros were spent on medicines obtained in pharmacies with a doctor's prescription, while medicines worth about 38,2 million were delivered to public institutions.
The FZO previously reminded that the consumption of medicines per capita has been growing for the last five years, which includes everything that citizens pay directly from their pockets in pharmacies.
"Per capita consumption in 2014 was 100,17 euros, and four years later it was 137,76". Comparative data in the region and Europe show that in Montenegro, less medicine was consumed per capita compared to the environment, but also developed European countries.
For example, in 2017, 124 euros were spent per capita on medicines in Montenegro, 193.50 in Croatia, 138.38 in Serbia, and about 450 in Slovenia... In the Netherlands, about 342 euros per capita were spent on medicines that year, Norway about 399, and in Italy 515.7
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