The police are investigating whether the previous management of the public pharmacy institution "Montefarm" committed a criminal offense under the jurisdiction of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) by signing a secret 10-year contract with a private company, without the right to terminate.
According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", a special police department last week seized documentation from "Montefarm" about the deal, including the controversial contract signed with the company "Mediamarketing" from Podgorica, in which the public institution committed to giving that company 85 percent of its advertising revenue in pharmacies.
The SDT confirmed to "Vijesti" that the Special Police Department (SPO) has taken certain police measures and actions in connection with establishing the grounds for suspicion that a criminal offense within their jurisdiction was committed at the Public Institution of the Pharmacy of Montenegro "Montefarm".
"In order to continue to take action in the further course of the investigation pursuant to binding orders and under the direct supervision of the Special State Prosecutor's Office. Due to the interests of the procedure, no further information can be provided," SDT responded to "Vijesti".
"Montefarm" responded briefly that the SPO recently visited the institution and requested certain documentation, and that in order to protect the ongoing investigation, they are unable to comment on the details of that visit.
Did you finance the purchase of an LED display with an advance?
Contract for the installation of smart LED displays and hologram projectors in 56 state pharmacies, former director of "Montefarma" Goran Marinović signed in April 2023 with the private company "Mediamarketing" from Podgorica.
According to data from the Central Register of Business Entities (CRPS), that company was founded in January of the same year, with a founding capital of one euro, and employs one person.
"Montefarm", according to "Vijesti", has undertaken to pay the company a deposit of 60 euros within 30.000 days of signing the contract, as a guarantee for the fulfillment of the contract, or compensation in the event of any damage to the display and hologram. At the same time, the private company has undertaken in the contract that, within the same period, within 60 days, it will be authorized to deliver, install and enable the complete functioning of LED displays and holograms in state pharmacies.
The contract, among other things, states that it will be in force and regulate rights and obligations for a period of five plus five years, and that “Montefarm” agrees to retain a fixed fee of 15 percent of the revenue generated on a monthly basis. According to the contract, the remaining 85 percent of the revenue from all advertising activities is paid to the private company no later than the 5th of the month for the previous month.
In case of termination, they receive ten years of income
On behalf of "Montefarma", Marinović signed with the director of "Mediamarketing" that the provisions of the contract and everything related to its implementation constitute a business secret, and that confidential information may not be disclosed to the public or third parties without the prior written consent of the other party, except in the event of a request by a competent authority or in the event of legal proceedings.
A clause was also signed by which “Montefarm” waived “any right it would otherwise have under the law” to terminate the contract before the term for which it was concluded or to seek a reduction in any obligation. In the event of unilateral termination of the contract by “Montefarm”, the institution undertook to pay the private company a compensation calculated in such a way that 85 percent of the monthly income generated from the moment of commissioning the LED display and hologram until the moment of termination is multiplied by the number of months remaining until the expiration of the contracted period of five plus five years. In the opposite situation, as defined by the contract, the private company would pay “Montefarm” 15 percent of the monthly income multiplied by the number of months until the expiration of the contract.
Advertising monopoly, revenue 70.000
About fifteen pharmaceutical companies are advertising in state pharmacies across Montenegro, starting in December 2023. Sources claim that "Mediamarketing" should have earned around 70.000 euros from advertising to date, and the public pharmacy institution around 12.000, not including VAT. "Vijesti" has unofficially learned that some well-known pharmaceutical companies have paid up to 20.000 euros for advertising in state pharmacies.
In the contract, which Vijesti had access to, Montefarm also states that any placement of marketing and advertising material in printed form will be considered prohibited in each of the pharmacies from the moment of signing and that they take full responsibility that no other advertising and marketing tools will be used during the duration of the signed cooperation with Mediamarketing.
Former director Marinović was dismissed by the Minister of Health in April last year. Vojislav Šimun and appointed in his place Aleksandar BogavacThe dismissal was preceded by a finding by the Commission for the Control of the Work of Health Institutions, which established that Marinović acted contrary to the law, which he denied.
In its report, the commission also raised the issue of Marinović signing multiple contracts for the use of space on smart LED displays/3D holograms, even though the institution's Statute does not provide for the activity of advertising pharmaceutical products and he did not have consent for this.
DON'T MISS IT
Bonus video:
