Immobile and old without diapers due to budget delays

Due to temporary funding that was in effect until July 1, state pharmacies were left without adult diapers, which are used by a large number of elderly, immobile people.

Several citizens told "Vijesta" that despite having a doctor's prescription, they could not get the medicinal product in pharmacies and that they tried unsuccessfully to get it in neighboring municipalities.

"Montefarm" replied to "Vijesta" that after the adoption of the annual budget, the conditions have finally been met for the tender for the purchase of diapers for adults and that, if all conditions are met within the legally prescribed period, delivery is expected at the beginning of next month.

"As we had a one-month budget funding until July 1 of this year, the procurement of the aforementioned funds was on a monthly basis and there was no possibility of announcing an annual tender. "Montefarm" has repeatedly warned the public, based on our long-term experience, that there is a justified fear that for this reason there will be a shortage of certain medicines and medical supplies", they emphasized from that institution.

The budget law entered into force on July 1. "Montefarm" clarified that they immediately began to call for tenders, as well as that the procedures prescribed by the Law on Public Procurement are complicated and take a long time.

"Specifically, the tender for the supply of diapers has been completed, the decisions have been made, but the legal appeal period must be respected. Therefore, in the event that all the mentioned conditions are realized within the legally prescribed period, we expect the delivery of sufficient quantities of diapers in the first week of August", they answered from "Montefarm".

"Vijesti" has written on several occasions during the previous months about the shortage of medicines as a result of the failure to adopt the Law on the Budget. During June, the health system ran out of several types of cytostatics, and the Clinical Center (KC) lacked fluoracil, which is used in the treatment of advanced cancer of the breast, stomach, colon, pancreas..., docetaxel of 20 milligrams against breast, lung, and prostate cancer , as well as irinotecan, intended for the treatment of colon or rectal cancer. Some patients claimed that they independently procure the medicine in neighboring countries.

"Montefarm" announced at the beginning of July that they will do everything to ensure that citizens do not purchase cytostatics on their own, because they are very aware of their diagnoses and the struggle in which they need the support of the whole society.

This institution explained to "Vijesta" that this institution carries out procurements exclusively in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement, that is, it calls for tenders whose procedures are conditioned by the law, often complicated and take a long time, and that these restrictions often affect their operations, the dynamics of procurement and delivery to the end user - the patient.

"Despite our efforts, the very conscious and conscientious commercial pharmacists, as well as all the Montefarm employees, shortages of certain medicines occasionally occur that we cannot influence. The mentioned tender procedures are only one of the problems we encounter when procuring medicines and medical devices", they said from "Montefarm".

From this institution, they clarified that cytostatics are provided based on the assessment of competent health institutions, namely: what type, in what quantity and for what period.

"This year, a tender was not announced due to a one-month budget funding, so we have repeatedly warned the public that there may be a shortage of drugs for the treatment of rare and serious diseases. Procuring cytostatics is not easy, manufacturers insist on a consumption plan for six to 12 months in order to provide packaging, translation and packaging for our market", it was announced from "Montefarm".

In this institution, they claim that ordering on a monthly basis is risky because it is difficult to ensure immediate delivery.