The Emergency Medical Service (ZHMP) received an ambulance and delivery vehicle, worth a total of over 86 thousand euros, which, as announced, further improved the mobility and operational readiness of the emergency service.
The ZHMP said that the vehicle keys were handed over to the employees by the Minister of Health Vojislav Šimun, and the event was attended by the director of the Institute Vuk Niković, assistant director Miloš Šaponjić, and the director of the Health Insurance Fund (FZO) Vuk Kadić.
"62.614 euros including VAT were allocated for the purchase of an ambulance, while 23.571 euros including VAT were allocated for the delivery vehicle," the statement said.
It is stated that the funds were provided by the Health Insurance Fund, which, as stated by the institution, confirms the state's commitment to continuously investing in the modernization of the healthcare system and improving the working conditions of medical staff.
"The ambulance, equipped with modern medical equipment, will improve the transport of patients in emergency situations, while the delivery vehicle will facilitate logistical support," the Fund said.
Niković said that the process of adopting modern emergency medicine standards at the Institute began in 2021.
As he stated, modernizing the vehicle fleet and equipping vehicles are a prerequisite for providing emergency medical care, in which time is the most important factor.
Niković said that for the first time since its establishment, the Institute will record special number 124 in all HMP units.
"And for the first time, it will have a server room in which, in addition to the server for recording the number 124, there will be a server for Telemedicine, Index - Montenegrin protocol for receiving home visits, and all devices, ECGs, monitors and defibrillators on the territory of the country will be networked," Niković said.
According to him, funds were provided from the European Union's IPA RACE 2 project in the amount of around 700 thousand euros.
Niković emphasized that the creation of working conditions for medical workers is the most important part of the Institute's work and development agenda, which, as he said, places it among the institutions of essential importance for the country's healthcare system.
"In this very responsible process, without the support of the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Fund, the entire process would have been impossible because the Institute has been a neglected health institution for a decade or more," said Niković.
Šimun said that continued investments in ZHMP throughout the country confirm the commitment of health authorities, as well as management, to ensuring that this important segment of health care reaches the level of modern emergency medicine services.
"With the commitment and clear vision of management, as well as the efficient management of resources, patients can be sure that services in emergency units will be at the highest level, and doctors and medical staff will have working conditions befitting this profession," said Šimun.
As he said, those who are first on the scene in the event of accidents and emergency care for vulnerable patients must, above all, be safe and provided with the necessary standards of their own safety in order for the entire process to have a positive and successful outcome.
Kadić said that the Fund allocated 124 euros from last year's budget for the purchase of a new ambulance, delivery vehicle and equipment for recording the number 24 throughout the country, in all 136.420 emergency units.
"The Health Insurance Fund will continue to provide support to health institutions across the country, in order to provide citizens with the best possible health services and employees with better working conditions," said Kadić.
According to him, these are the key priorities of the Health Insurance Fund and they will remain committed to this in the coming period.
The statement states that Šimun, Niković and Kadić also visited the server room, where the installation of a system for recording all calls to the number 124 on the territory of Montenegro is underway.
"For the first time since the establishment of the Institute, the legal obligation to record emergency calls will be fulfilled, and the data will be stored in a secure database," the statement says.
It is added that 49.850 euros were allocated for the purchase of equipment for recording conversations, provided by the Health Insurance Fund.
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