Pharmacies in Montenegro are out of stock of the drug Anafranil, which is used by patients to treat depression and mood disorders.
The delay in the delivery of this drug, patients claim, has been going on for a month and it is not known when the supplier will be able to offer Anafranil to pharmacies again. Patients who have been using Anafranil for years say that they are looking for the drug in neighboring Serbia, Republika Srpska and Albania and remind authorities of the importance of regular therapy, bearing in mind that our country is among the top European countries in terms of suicide rates.
"Montefarm" confirmed to "Vijesti" yesterday that there is a current interruption in the procurement of the drug Anafranil, manufactured by Novartis Pharma, because no bidders responded in several public procurement procedures.
They explained that in three public procurement procedures, from 18. 3. 2024, then 17. 5. 2024, as well as the most recent procedure from 10. 3. 2025, no supplier expressed interest or submitted a bid.
"The only procedure in which a bid was received was from 28. 6. 2024, and based on that single bid, stocks were formed that were distributed and consumed in the meantime. According to the circulation card of the aforementioned drug, in the period from 1 January to 25 April this year, our pharmacies issued a total of 835 boxes to patients on prescription, and the current delay in the delivery of the drug is a consequence of the lack of bids in the aforementioned public procurement procedures," the response reads.
"Montefarm" said that at this moment, due to the lack of bids in public procurement, there is no precise information on when the drug Anafranil will be delivered. They also claim that they are in constant contact with potential suppliers and that they continue their daily activities to secure new quantities.
"Patients using Anafranil drag. 25 mg are advised to consult with their chosen doctor or psychiatrist about a possible therapeutic replacement. There are certain drugs from the same pharmacological group that can be used as an alternative, but only with a professional assessment and recommendation from a doctor, in order to ensure safety and continuity of therapy," they said.
"Montefarm" reminded that they are conducting the procurement of medicines in accordance with the Public Procurement Law, where they use all legally permitted mechanisms and the possible availability of parallels on the market, in order to overcome the interruption in supply in the shortest possible time and enable uninterrupted treatment of patients.
"Given that, in addition to our 55 pharmacies, more than 120 private pharmacies also dispense medicines at the expense of the Health Insurance Fund, the interruption in supply caused by the supplier's inability to provide medicine for the Montenegrin market results in shortages in both state and private pharmacies," they pointed out.
"Montefarm" said that they understand patients who are waiting for the therapy they are used to and that they are trying to ensure continuity of delivery as soon as possible, if possible, which depends on the manufacturer itself.
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