State pharmacies ran out of insulin this week, and the "Montefarma" warehouse received refills of this medicine yesterday and extraordinary distribution began.
This was answered by this institution to "Vijesti", after several patients complained about the lack of insulin in the previous days.
"'Montefarm' regularly delivered insulin to our pharmacies throughout the previous year and in the first three months of the current year. If in the previous few days certain pharmacies had a problem with insulin supplies, that deficit could last two or three days. Our warehouse expects to replenish all types of insulin on April 16, after which emergency distribution to pharmacies that need urgent delivery will begin immediately," the response reads.
"Montefarm" said that the pharmacies are regularly supplied with medicines, but due to the one-month budget funding and the impossibility of calling for tenders, there was a decrease in the stock and deficit of certain medicines.
"We hope that the situation will stabilize very quickly, and in the meantime, citizens have at their disposal, in addition to our 55 pharmacies, over 190 private pharmacies that have signed a contract with the Health Insurance Fund, where prescribed prescriptions can also be filled," they replied from "Montefarma".
"Vijesti" announced at the end of March that certain health institutions ran out of the antibiotic longacef in ampoules, which are also used by covid-positive patients, and sufficient quantities of this drug allegedly arrived at the beginning of this month.
Solumedrol and Lemod (urbazon), injection solutions, were also in short supply, but refills arrived.
We are talking about corticosteroids, which are important in regulating numerous body functions in the body, and among other things, they are used in inflammatory reactions of the lungs.
"Montefarm" told "Vijesta" yesterday that the situation regarding ampoule medicines is quite stable.
"Replenishments are constantly being made to all public health institutions, although the consumption is extremely high, which is inevitable after the large number of patients with covid-19 in the last few months," he wrote in the answer.
This health institution recently announced that the consumption of medicines on a global level has increased several times, not only antibiotics and anti-inflammatory therapies, but a large number of medicines used to treat the coronavirus and the consequences of the infection.
"At the same time, in Montenegro there is a fairly large number of patients who have some chronic disease and who must be continuously supplied with necessary medicines", they emphasized.
"Montefarm" said that despite all these conditions, they strive to supply the complete public health system of Montenegro and ensure its smooth functioning.
"Vijesti" announced at the beginning of February, based on documentation from the platform of the Syndicate of Medical Doctors, that Montenegrin pharmacies and health institutions could face a shortage of medicines if the Ministry of Finance does not change the decision on temporary financing in the field of health in the part related to the preparation public procurement plans until the adoption of the budget for 2021.
The former management of the Health Insurance Fund in mid-January informed the Ministry that the field of health is specific, while the Minister of Health Jelena Borovinić Bojović sent a request to her colleagues from the finance department for an opinion on the development of public procurement plans for the needs of the health system.
At the beginning of March, a shortage of anti-blood clotting drugs was noted in some institutions, which, in addition to covid-positive patients, are also used as regular therapy by pregnant women.
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