Unsettled obligations to suppliers at the end of last year were more than EUR 12 million less than at the end of 2021 and represent a multi-year debt for used medicines and medical devices for the needs of the citizens of Montenegro, Montefarm announced.
Montefarm reacted to the statement of the deputy of the Social Democratic Party, Adnan Striković, who called on the authorities to check whether there are elements of unscrupulous business practices, abuse of office and mobbing of employees in the actions of the management of that health institution.
The health institution reminded that Montefarm procures medicines and medical devices for the needs of the public health sector, in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement, on behalf of the state.
"The outstanding liabilities of 26.086.000 euros at the end of last year, which are not the debt of Montefarma, were reduced by 12.244.000 euros compared to the end of 2021 and represent a multi-year debt for used medicines and medical devices for the needs of citizens," the response says .
It is stated that the debt has accumulated because apparently the payments between the Ministry of Finance and Montefarm were not made regularly in previous years, and not in 2021 and last year.
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Montefarm, as they said from that health institution, is not a direct importer of drugs nor does it negotiate with manufacturers, but initiates procurement procedures through public calls for tenders through the CEJN platform, to which all suppliers apply.
"The current occasional shortages, although payments from the Health Insurance Fund are regular for the payment of invoices, have been caused by global supply problems in recent months," said Montefarma.
As they stated, the data of the recently conducted research on the supply of a group of representative pharmacies in 29 European countries of the European Union shows that a quarter of the countries reported a shortage of more than 600 types of drugs, and 20 percent reported a shortage of 200 to 300 types of drugs.
Montefarma said that three quarters of countries reported that shortages were greater this winter than last year.
As they said, when it comes to the renewed fleet, the vehicles were acquired after analyzing the profitability and maintenance costs, where enormous financial expenses were determined.
Montefarma added that, after the approval of the Board of Directors of that health institution, the purchase of the vehicle was made from its own funds, in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement.
"Despite the record jumps in fuel prices, the increase in the volume of business and the number of deliveries, both regular and extraordinary, according to JZU and our pharmacies, the significant increase in the price of vehicle servicing services, last year saw a reduction in fuel consumption twice compared to 2021," it says in reacting.
It is stated that the savings in the same period for servicing is 75 percent.
Montefarma said that before the restoration, the car was between 12 and 20 years old.
They said that after performing the financial results of the pharmacies' operations in the previous period, it was determined that 16 percent of them operated positively, and 84 percent negatively.
"Thus, in the last four years, the Morača pharmacy in Podgorica operated negatively in the amount of -256.955 euros," the response states.
Montefarma added that traffic depends on the location, the proximity of pharmacies that are privately owned, and that they have an obligation to provide pharmaceutical services to citizens, both in urban and rural areas.
They said that they still do business positively, thanks to the percentage of 16 percent of pharmacies that are profit holders of the institution and make up for the minus of the remaining pharmacies.
Montefarma said that for this reason it was necessary to reorganize the pharmaceutical staff in pharmacies, all with the aim of improving the pharmaceutical service provided to citizens and ultimately increasing profits, which is evident.
According to them, the transfer of staff and the change of pharmacy managers was justified, especially due to the fact that most of them managed pharmacies from ten to 30 years continuously, doing business negatively from year to year.
Montefarm said that all disciplinary procedures were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Law and the Branch collective agreement for healthcare activities, which qualified minor and serious violations of work obligations.
As they said, out of the total number of procedures for determining responsibility for violation of work duties, 62 employees performed their work duties unconscionably, untimely and carelessly in such a way that they were found to have failed in the performance of the duties of the workplace.
"For example, hygiene was not maintained satisfactorily in the pharmacies, in the commercial sector there were omissions regarding the receipt and dispatch of goods, the delivery of medicines, unauthorized leaving the workplace and interruption of the work process, as well as the responsibility of the head of the Sector in this regard," it says. in response.
Montefarma said that violations of work obligations were also reflected in the provision of incorrect data, failure to wear personal protective equipment at work, as well as inappropriate, offensive behavior towards employees and expressions of intolerance.
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