The Association of Parents of Diabetic Children "Beta" claims that for a long time they have had a problem with a shortage of four-millimeter needles for applying insulin, intended for the youngest patients, as well as strips and lancets for measuring blood sugar.
They explained that needles, strips and lancets arrive at Montefarma pharmacies irregularly and in insufficient quantities, and that insulin must be given to children at least four times a day.
In Montefarm, however, they deny these claims and say that there are enough needles in state pharmacies and that the last replenishment of the stock of the four-millimeter medical device was on November 17.
They say that in the previous year, 241.000 four-millimeter pins, 390.000 six-millimeter pins, and 1.100.000 eight-millimeter pins were purchased.
"For the period from the beginning of the year to November 20, 240.000 pieces of 4 mm needles, 363.000 pieces of six millimeters were traded, while 1.040.000 pieces of 8 mm were acquired for the same period. Therefore, the purchase is made every year based on the turnover from the previous periods with a certain percentage of the estimated growth taken into account", they answered from "Montefarm".
The Beta association says that these quantities are clearly insufficient and that the shortage problem is particularly pronounced outside of Podgorica.
According to Montefarma's letter dated October 18 of this year to the Beta Association, there was an interruption in the supply of needles in the previous months and smaller quantities were delivered to pharmacies at the beginning of September, but they were probably used up very quickly.
Beta: Children are put in danger
The association says that Montefarm pharmacies are very poorly supplied with medicines and medical supplies for children with diabetes.
"Thanks to the contract that the Health Insurance Fund has with private pharmacies, we can pick up insulin in private pharmacies without any problems, because they are prescribed via electronic prescription. But needles, strips and lancets are medical devices, not drugs, and are prescribed via a paper prescription. It is not possible to implement a paper prescription in private pharmacies, so our children are deprived of a basic medical tool", emphasizes the Beta Association.
They claim that needles, strips and lancets arrive in state pharmacies irregularly and in insufficient quantities.
"Insulin must be given to children at least four times a day, and without it our children cannot live. Needles are a basic tool, without which insulin cannot be given. After the first use, the needle becomes dull and with each subsequent use it causes pain to our children. Our children have the right to the number of needles, according to the doses of insulin they receive, which is 120 needles. Although this is intended for situations when everything is fine. Children often receive extraordinary doses of insulin, which require a larger number of needles than regular, and they certainly buy extra needles. But, buying for regular needs is absurd", informed "Vijesta".
They explain that the dose of insulin is adjusted according to the level of sugar measured in the blood.
"If there are no strips, it is not possible to measure sugar or adjust the dose of insulin. This puts our children in danger. "Instead of considering advanced ways of controlling diabetes that are common in developed countries, we must fight for basic means to control a serious condition, such as diabetes," the Association points out.
Montefarm: We have sufficient quantities of all funds
However, "Montefarm" replied to "Vijesta" that they have enough needles, strips and lancets for both children and adults.
"Also, all patients suffering from diabetes, regardless of age, can pick up devices for measuring blood glucose levels on prescription in our pharmacies. In addition to regular deliveries to Montefarm pharmacies, the listed medical devices are also delivered to all public health institutions according to their needs. As is known, the procurement is carried out by announcing a tender in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement and based on the dynamics of the arrival of the contracted tender quantities, distribution is carried out to our pharmacies and public health institutions", the answer reads.
They claim that pharmacies have enough needles for applying insulin of four, six and eight millimeters.
"For children up to 10 years of age, 4 mm needles are issued by prescription, and 10 mm needles are used for ages 18-6, depending on the physical characteristics of the patients themselves. Specifically, the replenishment of the stock in our warehouse of 4 mm needles was on Friday, November 17, and both the warehouse and the pharmacy currently have the necessary quantities," they said.
Montefarm points out that pharmacies in all municipalities have insulin and medical devices for application and control of blood glucose levels.
"As far as Podgorica is concerned, the focus is on on-call and larger pharmacies, which are regularly supplied, especially the Kruševac pharmacy, which is open 24 hours a day on Bulevar Svetog Petar Cetinjski. Smaller pharmacies in Podgorica do not deliver insulin, therefore neither do needles, strips, lancets and devices because special conditions are necessary for their adequate storage. Therefore, a dozen pharmacies in Podgorica have the listed pharmaceutical products, which has been the practice for many years", Montefarm concludes.
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