The state is in the mood to provide sensors for all patients with type 1 diabetes, but there is not enough money in the budget for that at the moment, it was announced during the session of the Parliamentary Committee for Health, Labor and Social Welfare.
The board considered the petition of the Diabetes Team Association - DOB, which, with more than 6.000 signatures, requested that adult patients with type 1 diabetes receive sensors for controlling blood sugar levels.
Association representative Vukašin Zogović said that such patients are pricked an average of 2.190 times a year to measure their blood sugar level.
"And in addition, there are 1.460 injections to receive insulin therapy. With this petition, we want to appeal to the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Fund to change the Ordinance on Medical Aids by which they deny the right to sensors to adult patients. By using the sensor, the number of annual injections is reduced to 36, not counting capillary checks. We believe that in the XNUMXst century it is unacceptable to endanger the daily life of patients and divide them by age. By using sensors, we can more easily keep this autoimmune chronic disease under control and prevent the occurrence of complications", said Zogović.
Deputy Prime Minister Srđan Pavićević warned that diabetes is a silent killer.
"It belongs to one of the most dangerous non-communicable diseases, almost epidemic in nature. It can lead to severe disabilities, which, if they do not have adequate treatment, can end fatally," emphasized Pavićević.
He said that the sensors provide constant information about the status of sugar in the body.
"He cannot solve everything now and immediately. But we have a desire to cover as many of these issues as possible through a phased approach in a high-quality manner, and at some point the entire issue," said Pavićević.
Minister of Health Vojislav Šimun said that "the quality of life of patients is improved precisely by the application of such technologies."
"I support this technological breakthrough. With certain legal regulations, by amending the rulebook, we have further increased the range of patients who enjoy this right. In relation to the countries of the region, Montenegro extended the age limit from 18 to 26 years of age. According to information from the Ministry of Health, 18 patients under the age of 269 use the device, and 18 patients between the ages of 26 and 295. As for the potential users of the device, that is, over 26 years of age, as requested by the petition, there are about 2.200 of them, with the fact that this number can vary up to 2.700 people, potential patients," said Šimun.
The inclusion of such a large number of patients would, he stated, have a significant impact on the already adopted annual budget.
"I don't think that in this sense it would be possible to meet immediately and on this scale. We at the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Health Insurance Fund, thought to expand this range of rights and include those who need this device the most. Within the existing budget resources, we considered the possibility of expanding the number of users for those who are on insulin pumps, regardless of age. Currently, we have 67 more such patients, which would be an expenditure of around 150.000 euros, which we could already do now", pointed out Šimun.
According to him, it is necessary to include people with disabilities.
"That group is not numerous, we don't have data at the moment, but I think it would be a responsible health policy," he said.
FZO director Vuk Kadić said that the intention is for insulin pump users to receive a sensor as well.
"And of course, if we manage to secure more funds in the coming period, let's make it possible for everyone who has type 1 diabetes, with clear criteria," said Kadić.
Aleksandar Radović, director of the Clinical Center, said that the health institution supports the expansion of the list for sensors.
"I think we need to be ready. Yes, like Croatia, the commission approves, but also takes away the right to the sensor. The 'everything-everything' model is not good, because it can lead to abuses", specified Radović.
Director of Podgorica Health Center Dragana Durković Perović said that the total number of adult diabetics is 9.525.
"The number of patients on insulin is 2.336. A total of 29 sensors are used. So - very few. I think that a large number of patients are discriminated against in this sense, and I agree that there must be a commission that will give the green light for that device," said Durković Petrović.
MP Vladimir Dobričanin said that everyone wants to help, but that the state budget is limited.
"As much as we try to say that health has no price, the situation is the opposite. Yes, yes, health has a price. An MRI costs so much money and if you don't pay, you won't get it. If everyone were to get the right to a sensor, it would cost 7,2 million euros per year. With the current budget, it is impossible, which does not mean that we should not work to make it possible", said Dobričanin.
SD MP Boris Mugoša said that the registers are a concern.
"We keep saying that there are no registers in many segments, so we can't even plan the costs," warned Mugoša.
Zogovic replied that approximately one in ten patients is interested in the sensor.
It is to be expected that it will be only a few hundred", he said.
He said that the executive power in the civil sector will always have a partner.
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