Seven gynecologists cover three municipalities

Around 65.000 women in Podgorica are registered with selected gynecologists in health centers, but the largest health center is still short of nine doctors.

Some patients claim that it was impossible to schedule the first examination in the previous days within the next two months, and the staffing situation is further complicated by the fact that the health facility in Konik is left without a gynecologist.

"Currently, seven selected women's doctors work at the Capital City Health Center, while the current systematization provides for a total of 16 positions. A competition is underway to hire one gynecologist at the Konik health facility," the institution told "Vijesti".

According to the Health Center, in Podgorica, around 65.000 women have chosen their gynecologist, while the optimal number of registrations per doctor is 8.000. According to the Regulation on detailed conditions regarding standards, norms and methods of providing primary health care through a selected team of doctors or a selected doctor, the number of insured women per gynecologist is on average 6.500 (for women aged 13 to 65). This document states that the minimum number of insured women per gynecologist is 5.000, and the maximum is 8.000.

Doctors in the facilities in Block V, the Student Polyclinic, the Old Airport and Konik examine around 40 patients on average, and the total number of patients admitted is even higher, since not everyone needs to be examined.

"Given the fact that we are facing a challenge, which has resulted in a shortage of gynecology specialists in the 'Konik' Health Center, and in order to overcome the current lack of professional staff and ensure uninterrupted access to gynecological services, all gynecologists from the city, according to a pre-defined schedule, are currently providing health services to patients from the Konik Health Center area," the institution said.

Doctors from the Clinical Center of Montenegro are employed in the clinics in Tuzi and Zeta, which operate within the Health Center of neighboring Podgorica. According to information from two months ago, the facility in Zeta had one designated doctor for women on maternity leave.

The management of the Health Center also says that the Zeta health facility has one selected doctor for women with around 1.000 registered patients, who is currently on maternity leave, so the arrival of a doctor who practices twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, has been organized.

"We expect the return of two doctors from specialization in the near future. Regardless of the current staffing challenges, the Capital City Health Center is taking all necessary measures to ensure that every patient is provided with timely and quality health care," the Health Center says.

Gynecological staff in health centers have been in deficit for years, despite the need for regular preventive examinations, including cervical cancer screening, which is carried out at the primary health care level, in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health.

The counseling center is visited by about 800 pregnant women annually.

According to data from the Health Center, the Reproductive Health Counseling Center is visited by between 60 and 80 pregnant women per month.

"This amounts to approximately 800 visits annually, and the number of users varies depending on several factors, including information campaigns and seasonal changes," the Health Center said.