Šimun: Montenegro lost more than a hundred doctors from 2014 to 2018

Montenegro lost more than a hundred doctors from 2014 to 2018, and due to the lack of an appropriate staffing plan, long waiting lists occur.

This was said by Health Minister Vojislav Šimun, answering questions from MPs at today's session of the Parliament.

MP Jevto Eraković (DPS) asked Šimun two questions. He asked him about waiting lists "for certain specialist services at the Clinical Center of Montenegro."

"This action and what you have done is very reminiscent of your Prime Minister. Although we doctors here from these parliamentary benches, knowing you as a young doctor who has just completed his specialization, who, if we compare it with other ministers, had at least some references to be in that position, we have given you our support. However, this gesture that you made today shows that you have the same matrix as your Prime Minister. I have data on the waiting lists, as well as on yesterday. Obviously, Minister, that you tried to manipulate the data and the fact that you opened certain appointments today cannot abolish what is in the Montenegrin healthcare system. And those appointments that you opened, you did it six months from today," said Eraković.

He said that Šimun managed to do the almost impossible "to enable them to have examinations from today in six months for certain specialist branches."

"I expected this to be the position of the Ministry of Health and I am sorry that I was right. I would ask you to responsibly, as the first person in the healthcare system of Montenegro, tell patients the truth that they face every day. When can they come for specialist examinations and what are the appointments," he said.

Šimun pointed out that the terms are "sliding" for six months. He said that KCCG made a mistake and should have released terms for October and November. He pointed out that there are internal and external terms, adding that the former are "much earlier".

"These clinics that do not have appointments have not yet entered the system that allows for transparent lists. That's what we said, to free up appointments and have realistic lists. The problem is that the fight for waiting lists has its roots in a long time... You know, in 2018, 60 specializations and subspecializations were announced in total throughout Montenegro, in 2019 there were 120. Last year I announced 270. Do you know that in that case, I was short of 200 specialists who would have completed their education last year or the year before last. Well, that's the lack of staff," said Šimun.

Another shortcoming, he said, is the lack of infrastructure. He said he had heard "20 years of promises in the city hospital."

"I already have a feasibility study, a media program, a conceptual design, and a plot with the Ministry of Local Self-Government completed. Well, those are concrete things. We missed the opportunity for staff six years ago. Then I would have had many more people available and the waiting lists would be much shorter," he pointed out.

He emphasized that from 2014 to 2018, Montenegro lost more than 100 doctors. Šimun also emphasized that an adequate staffing plan had not been made, which is why long waiting lists occur.

"The point is – we have appointments. If something is urgent, it is resolved urgently. I have to resolve the problems that others have burdened me with, and who are the ones talking about it the most," Šimun pointed out.

Eraković told him that he should compare the waiting lists "that he has during his mandate compared to those from 2020."

"Well, look how long there were waits for specialist examinations and certain procedures in the hospital. Some oncology patients cannot be operated on for months at the KCCG... There are probably about thirty clinics at this moment that do not have free appointments, and the ones you mentioned, I say, have opened appointments for the next six months. Do you know how a minister of health should view the health system," Eraković pointed out.

He told him that he could talk about pilot projects and budgeting, but that the bottom line was “that patients do not have access to healthcare services that are at a historic high.” Eraković repeatedly emphasized that citizens do not have basic protection and that this is the main problem.

"Another problem that someone tried to implement last month within the Montenegrin healthcare system. Please stop doing that, to determine how much someone can spend on medicines for a certain month. Do you know that patients at the Brezovik hospital were unable to receive immunotherapy because someone made a decision on how much that hospital could spend during the month," said Eraković, emphasizing that someone cannot deal with economics within the medical profession.

Šimun replied to Eraković that, when he was the director of KCCG, there were more than 13.000 operations.

"Do you know how many there were last year? It was a record with 24.000 operations. With fewer operations, the wait was longer, and now it's the other way around. There's no logic to it. Last year, the KCCG performed 785.500 diagnostic procedures and examinations. Do you know in your period? There were 487.000... What a paradox," said the Minister of Health.

Šimun said that more than 700 additional and overtime appointments have been opened "just for cardiology."

"This is how the problem is solved... I didn't take anything out of anyone's pocket. As for Nikšić, there was a shortage of therapy for four days due to a logistical problem. This was not due to a lack of funds. As for oncology therapy, we have a lot of drugs. Much more is spent on oncology therapy here. Among other things, the Ministry of Health, 'Montefarm' and the Health Insurance Fund have formed a commission, so these shortages are much less frequent... We have to deal with the facts," said Šimun.

Eraković said that he has not convinced any patient that they have appointments that "do not exist." He said that the problem lies in the organization of the Montenegrin healthcare system, which is managed by the current composition of the competent department.

"When they have confusion in the system, that's when the problem arises. With a much smaller number of specialists, the waiting lists in 2019 were much smaller than they are today."

He asked him what happened to the project to build the KCCG Emergency Center, which was defined and started to be implemented in 2019.

"Where did you get the information that the construction will cost more than 200 million euros? And is it possible that those 200 million euros will solve the pressing problems of the Montenegrin healthcare system? We want to know, are there any oncology patients who wait for surgery for more than seven days? Are there any oncology patients who wait for more than 15 days," asked Eraković.

Šimun corrected him that the waiting list for radiotherapy was 15, adding that surgeries were a priority.

"We have reduced the waiting list a lot... As for the Emergency Center, it is a conceptual project. The Emergency Center will be planned within the new KCCG. A medical program has been developed. It will have nine rooms, appropriate outpatient clinics, two operating rooms and four triage rooms. In addition, a diagnostic center will be attached. The new KCCG will rely on 12 rooms. This is a systemic solution. One emergency center in the state cannot solve the pressing problems. I understand that you are looking at it from the perspective of a former head of a health institution... A new Health Center in the City Quarter is being built, a new hospital in Pljevlja... The fact is that concrete things have been undertaken and are being done. The point is that it is not all about painting, patching, and repainting... Montenegro requires a new facility. In a way, perhaps, we have a better and broader vision...", said Šimun.

"High-risk babies and children with developmental problems must be a priority"

MP Ana Novaković Đurović (URA) asked what the current support system is for high-risk babies who require urgent inclusion in early development.

She also asked what kind of medical staff we have and whether we have multidisciplinary teams in place when it comes to early development intervention.

She also asked how parents receive support, given that it is the fifth most expensive problem in the world, and that for the needs of therapy for children, they turn to private therapists, paying at least the minimum wage, because waiting lists in public institutions are too long, and a multidisciplinary approach does not work.

"The state and the system that provides conditions for the youngest is the only regulated system. A state that fails this test does not leave much hope for future generations. In Montenegro, we do not have a functional support system - not even in terms of sufficient medical staff, which is necessary for this (neurologists, physiatrists, special education teachers...)", explained Novaković Đurović.

Šimun responded that the Ministry shares the view that high-risk babies and children with developmental problems must be a priority.

"That is why we adopted the Early Childhood Development Strategy until 2027. You mentioned strengthening support for parents and that is something we are establishing in cooperation with UNICEF. It is also important to say that we must strengthen human resources. In the public health system, we have 23 psychologists, seven speech therapists and four special education teachers in health centers. In the Clinical Center, there are 14 psychologists, 11 special education teachers, four specialists in medical psychology and three child psychiatrists. We have also given several specializations in child psychiatry and medical psychology. The goal is to send as few young patients abroad as possible, and to have as many of them receive services in Montenegro," emphasized Šimun.

Novaković Đurović responded that "the adopted Strategy is one thing, but the implementation and the situation on the ground is another."

"This is a category of children who cannot wait. What about psychological and financial support for parents," she asked.

MP Elvir Zvrko (DPS) asked whether the budget allocated sufficient funds for the functioning of the healthcare system.

"We have entered a danger zone where the missing funds for healthcare are significantly higher than in previous years. Each citizen pays an additional 400 euros to the private sector during the year. Will funds be provided for the purchase of an MRI machine for the hospital in Bjelo Polje," asked the DPS MP.

The Minister of Health responded that the adopted budget is 452,6 million euros, which is about 25 million more than the previous one.

"Montefarma's budget for medicines is about 16 percent higher than the previous year. There is a high consumption of medicines... When it comes to the MRI machine, I think that tender has been announced, and through the budget planned for equipment, we will do our best to supply all institutions," he said.

Abdić: Will you resign if it turns out that the tender was rigged?

MP Nermin Abdić (DPS) asked Šimun whether the multi-year wait for surgical interventions, as well as the multi-month delay for certain examinations and diagnostic procedures, is "an indicator of progress in the healthcare of citizens."

Abdić asked citizens to send him when they receive appointments for basic diagnostic examinations.

"So I received information from a patient that he had an appointment for an ultrasound at the Podgorica Health Center at the end of January 2026. Good luck, Minister. I cannot help but mention that I promised people who are fighting a difficult battle in their families to provide their children with adequate health care... Everything would be better if you did not have the personnel policy that you have in some places. I was shocked by the news that one of the newly appointed directors in a health institution was a drug and substance smuggler. Please answer if this is true. Minister, this is not a laughing matter," said the opposition MP, emphasizing that he would not support revanchism in healthcare.

Šimun said that patients "gravitate towards certain doctors, so waiting lists are created."

"The second part is the lack of orthopedic operating rooms and we have recognized that. The fact is that the KCCG management is working on a solution to equip another one in the existing facility... We need to resolve the procurement of orthopedic materials and change the tender procedure...", said the minister.

He said that everyone in management should undergo a criminal record check.

"I'm shocked if there's someone in the healthcare system, or a doctor. I don't know who it is, or where the information came from, because it all goes through the court records. It could be insinuations, or a name match. That's something that's beyond me," said Šimun.

Abdić said that patients today wait up to three or four years for surgeries.

"Do you know how you will improve them? Not at all. Let me tell you right away, I already know the name of the manufacturer of the Medakta dentures, and I will also give you the name of the distributor in Montenegro of a company that has recently been founded. And they will be the distributors. It is a rigged tender," he said.

Abdić asked Šimun if he would resign if it turned out to be true that the aforementioned tender was rigged.