The extraordinary control of the commission of the Ministry of Health established that the hospital in Nikšić complied with all medical criteria and the algorithm for treating the patient's illness PR who in April, after unsuccessfully seeking the help of a psychiatrist on several occasions, committed suicide in the premises of that health facility.
This was answered by "Vijesta" from the department he manages Vojislav Šimun.
"Vijesti" reported on the case of suicide last month, and the hospital in Nikšić then confirmed that there was no psychiatrist on call in the disputed days at the end of April and that the patient was examined by an internist before the suicide, who prescribed therapy based on a telephone consultation.
On the occasion of the death of a patient, who killed himself with a firearm on the premises of the hospital, the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica opened a case. The prosecutor's office previously said that the case was in the investigation phase and that an order had been issued for an autopsy, GSR and ballistics examination, while the Police Directorate was ordered to collect the necessary information from citizens.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Health told "Vijesta" that, at the request of Šimun, in mid-June, the department formed a Commission for an extraordinary external quality check of professional work at the Nikšić General Hospital and a review of the deceased patient's medical records.
"The Commission was formed in accordance with the Law on Health Care, and the members of the Commission are delegated in front of the Medical Chamber, tertiary health care institutions and narrowly specialized hospitals," explained the ministry.
They claim that the commission, based on the review of medical and other documentation, came to the conclusion that the patient was treated for a permanent illness, and that from the beginning of the illness in 2021 until November, he was regularly treated with the prescription of therapy in accordance with the diagnostic category of the disease.
"Also, the Commission's report states that from November 2023 to April 27, 2024, there is no medical documentation about the patient's treatment by a specialist doctor, and that the Commission does not have data on whether he took therapy. It was also established that appropriate therapy was prescribed on April 27, 2024 and April 28, 2024, according to the medical algorithms of the previously mentioned disease, and that all medical criteria, i.e., the algorithm of treatment of the underlying disease, were complied with," the Ministry's response reads. of health.
The Nikšić hospital did not have a psychiatrist on duty during the days when the patient needed treatment. The patient was helped by the doctor on duty, an internist, who contacted his doctor by phone - the head of the psychiatric service, which was also confirmed at the hospital.
The doctor recommended therapy to the colleague, which the patient received, he was offered treatment at the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG), which he refused and committed suicide after leaving the health facility, on the ramp of the hospital.
Answering the questions of "Vijesti" regarding this case, the hospital in Nikšić said that the internal Commission for Quality Control concluded that the patient was treated in accordance with medical protocols, and that he was prescribed therapy. They also claimed that they did not have the possibility of forced hospitalization.
In addition to the prosecution, regarding the suicide in the General Hospital in Nikšić, the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms also reacted, which initiated the procedure ex officio, in order to determine the circumstances of the case and possibly whether it was acted in accordance with the regulations and whether there was omission.
The Institution of the Protector, as the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NMP), has been pointing out staffing problems at the Department of Psychiatry in Nikšić Hospital for years in regular annual reports and recommends that they be strengthened in accordance with the Act on Systematization. According to the systematization, seven psychiatrists are planned, and three doctors are currently working in that institution, one of whom is not on standby.
Members of the EMS during a control visit in September 2022, as stated in the report, found one psychiatrist employed on a part-time basis.
"It was pointed out that such a situation is unacceptable, with a potentially serious negative effect on the quality and scope of providing health services to patients undergoing hospital treatment at the Department of Psychiatry. In this sense, it was indicated that the urgent intervention of the Ministry of Health and the Hospital Administration is necessary in order to permanently overcome this problem", it is written in the annual report for 2022.
They control the documentation of the Nikšić hospital
Responding to the questions of "Vijesti", the Ministry of Health said yesterday that the Commission for Controlling the Work of Health Institutions, which Šimun, in accordance with the control plan for health institutions established by the state, has continued its work.
They replied that at the beginning of July, she controlled the Nikšić General Hospital and on that occasion seized documentation regarding the operation of that health institution from the medical, legal and economic aspects.
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