The national body under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, which will be formed, will oversee, direct and improve the quality of health care and the safety of health services in the country.
It is one of the activities planned by the Strategy for improving the quality of health care and patient safety, for the period from 2025 to 2028.
The strategy was adopted at yesterday's Government session, together with the Action Plan for the period 2025-2026.
"The strategy was designed with the purpose of improving a key aspect of the health system in Montenegro - the quality of health care and patient safety, which affect the daily life of its citizens. In Montenegro, as in many countries, the health system is facing multiple challenges arising from rapid demographic changes, increasing prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases, outdated infrastructure, limited financial resources and the need to integrate new technologies.These problems require a comprehensive approach to reform, which will not only improve direct health outcomes, but also to reduce the economic burdens associated with health care and improve the overall satisfaction of citizens with the health care system," the Ministry of Health announced.
Therefore, they say, the strategy was prepared through an inclusive multi-stage process, including technical support from the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO/EUROPE).
The document defines eight goals, namely: structured management of the quality of health care, establishing a system for monitoring unwanted events, ensuring sustainable financing of health care focused on quality and safety, developing a culture of quality health care and safety with the implementation and dissemination of good practice, then a team approach to treatment adapted to the needs of patients, improvement of the system for managing quality and data security, harmonization of health institutions with international and EU standards in the field of quality and reconstruction of infrastructure and construction of new facilities in accordance with "green" construction.
"One of the goals of this document is to establish a health care financing model that will ensure the long-term sustainability of the health care system, with a focus on improving quality and safety and providing value and equality for patients. Developing a new model for financing the wages of health workers and associates that rewards quality and efficiency will require a shift from volume-based financing to value-based financing, where resources are allocated according to improving health outcomes and treatment efficiency for all patients," the ministry said.
They point out that the planned analysis of waiting lists in health institutions is crucial for identifying problems and implementing measures to improve access to health services. "Establishing the Electronic Health Record, using an information system for data collection, as well as feedback from patients and healthcare workers about experiences with waiting lists will create a prerequisite for a detailed analysis, which will define systemic problems, specific patterns, as well as short-term and long-term measures and solutions that can significantly improve access to health services."
The creation of a program plan and education methodology in the field of health care quality and safety is also planned.
The plan is to develop a curriculum for basic and post-academic studies in the field of health care quality and safety, as well as its integration into the programs of institutions for the education of health personnel.
The ministry says that the introduction of the subject Quality of health care and patient safety in the list of mandatory exams for health workers will ensure that future health workers have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide high-quality health care.
"Education on patient safety will help reduce medical errors and adverse events. The strategy, among other things, provides for the creation of Instructions for reporting and monitoring adverse events, and the definition of a financial mechanism for compensation for adverse events is also planned."
The Ministry of Health also says that the backbone of treatment in the 21st century is made up of protocols - both clinical and pre-hospital - so that the provided medical assistance is adequate and risks and complications are reduced to a minimum. Therefore, as they said, an analysis of the existing clinical guidelines is planned, as well as a protocol for acute coronary syndrome, for colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.
"With this strategically important document, the Ministry of Health and the Government of Montenegro show their commitment to improving the quality of health care and the safety of the entire health system, with the aim of ensuring greater availability and success of treatment, better working conditions and, above all, greater patient safety," the announcement reads.
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