The Meljine Hospital is important not only for Herceg Novi, but for the entire Montenegrin coast, which is why the Ministry of Health will do everything to make that health institution function independently again, said the responsible minister Dragoslav Šćekić.
Today, during a tour of the Meljina Hospital, he said that it is incomprehensible that this health institution was neglected, neglected and left to the point of bankruptcy and failed privatization in previous decades.
"This hospital does not only mean Herceg Novi, it is needed by the entire Montenegrin healthcare system, because what Meljine has, other hospitals do not have. I'm talking first of all about the hyperbaric chamber, which was important not only at the level of Montenegro, but also at the time of the former Yugoslavia, and now at this moment it provides quality service at an enviable level," said Šćekić, as reported by the PR Center.
He assessed that Meljine Hospital has very high-quality staff, as well as equipment, "but the most important thing is that we have staff with experience and a serious continuity that, unfortunately, was slowed down at one point".
"The Ministry of Health will do its best that at this moment, as the only solution, the Meljine Hospital will join the Kotor Hospital, and in the coming period, through the strengthening of equipment and personnel, we will reach the level where it will return to an independent framework and be a hospital like used to be for the Municipality of Herceg Novi", said Šćekić.
The surgeon at the Meljine Hospital, Dragan Komatina, assessed that it is a historic moment for that health facility and Herceg Novi that the Meljine Hospital is part of the public health system and that it is the best thing that could have happened.
"Something that's been down for so long, it can't come back overnight. This is a huge complex, you have seen how good it is here and it needs to be restored. I think we got something great by going into public health. We were nowhere, but it's good - we're back. There are problems there, we will endure, but slowly step by step," Komatina said.
The director of the Health Insurance Fund, Vuk Kadić, reminded that since March 1, Meljine Hospital entered the public health system, and that Herceg Novi got a general hospital within the framework of public health for the first time.
"Until now it was a military hospital, and now for the first time the citizens of Herceg Novi have their own hospital. I think that every day this will get better and better. How much effort has been invested is best shown by the amount of funds provided for the functioning of this hospital. At this moment, in ten months we have secured somewhere around 30,8 million euros. This is two and a half times more than what we paid to the Meljine hospital on an annual basis, while it was a private hospital", stated Kadić.
He pointed out that they had to make a detailed financial plan for Meljine Hospital.
"Only 650.000 euros will be spent on medicines and medical supplies, 2,4 million euros will go to the gross salaries of employees within the Meljine hospital. These are significant funds, which the state had to provide, and which the Fund had to find in order for the citizens of Herceg Novi to get a hospital in their municipality," said Kadić.
He assessed that the enthusiasm of the employees at the hospital, their will and desire are immeasurable, stating that they owe them thanks.
The director of the Kotor hospital, Davor Kumburović, said that it is a great honor for him to be part of a team that has struggled with a lot of difficulties in the past period.
"First of all, I mean the legal difficulties when it comes to the survival and further progress of the Meljine hospital, while at the same time continuously providing health services to the citizens of Herceg Novi," Kumburović pointed out.
According to him, a few months ago the general hospital in Meljine did not exist, but then the most important step forward was made and it was accepted into the public health system.
"In these past months, healthy foundations have been created on which we can expect the healthy development of this hospital," Kumburović pointed out.
He added that the employees were provided with a certain financial gain, as well as the necessary norm in terms of the functioning of the anesthesiology and radiology departments.
"All this may not be enough, but it is a step forward, because just three months ago the hospital did not exist," Kumburović said.
He pointed out that it is necessary to remind about the great enthusiasm of all the people who are employed at the Meljine hospital and without whom all this would not be possible.
"This is a start, we are taking big steps in terms of staff, which is very necessary for a hospital to be sustainable", concluded Kumburović.
Doctor Stojanka Pepić said that in the hospital, where she has been for more than 20 years, all patients have conditions for treatment, peace and quiet.
"We are well staffed and our only goal is to make everything work so that no one has to wait for an examination," said Pepić.
According to her, now that they are part of public health, they believe that everything will come to life in full.
Physiotherapist Radomirka Popović said that she has been working at the hospital for 30 years and that it is a great success that they entered the public health system.
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