As of yesterday, citizens can again go for examinations and treatment at private ophthalmological healthcare institutions with the referral of their chosen doctor.
The Health Insurance Fund (FZO) responded to "Vijesti" the day before yesterday that previous contracts with ophthalmology clinics were valid until April 19th of this year and that the period until May 9th was not covered by the contracts due to the procedure that was carried out in the meantime to conclude new ones.
"As of tomorrow, May 9, 2025, new, two-year contracts will be in effect and insured persons will be able to continue exercising their rights to ophthalmological services in private clinics, as before," the HIF's response states.
Previously, citizens were not informed that the contracts had expired, nor that a new public call had been issued, and that they would not be able to use the services of ophthalmologists in private practices for a period of 20 days.
Because of this, some of them complained to the media, because they were only informed about the termination of cooperation with the Health Insurance Fund upon arriving at the clinics.
This institution did not answer "Vijesti" in how many private ophthalmological health institutions and in which citizens can now receive medical services at the expense of the Health Insurance Fund.
In 2023, the Health Insurance Fund signed contracts with a dozen private health institutions and specialist clinics that will provide certain specialist consultation and diagnostic services in the field of ophthalmology to insured persons free of charge, based on the instructions of a selected doctor.
Contracts were signed with specialist clinics "Dr Jovović" and "Borović", PZU Eye Clinic OKO VMMM, Lens Commerce, Dijagnostica, Moj Lab polyclinic, as well as with day hospitals "Oftalens dr Koturović" and Optimal from Podgorica, and specialist clinic Vid and eye clinic "Dr Marina" from Bar.
The contracts stipulate, among other things, that insured persons from Podgorica, Tuzi, Zeta, Danilovgrad, Kolašin, Bar and Ulcinj will be able to undergo complete initial ophthalmological examinations, check-ups, prescription of glasses, monitoring of chronic conditions, as well as eye ultrasounds at private providers free of charge, or at the expense of the Health Insurance Fund.
According to other contracts, insured persons from the entire territory of Montenegro can undergo vitrectomy and cataract removal, silicone oil evacuation and replacement, and retinal ambulation surgery in private day hospitals.
Since two years ago, with the changes in the decision on the network of health institutions, ophthalmology services have also been provided by the outpatient clinics of the health centers of Bar, Berane, Danilovgrad, Kotor and Podgorica.
At the primary level, within health centers, ophthalmologists now perform regular ophthalmological examinations, which include checking visual acuity, examining the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, measuring intraocular pressure, examinations and monitoring the condition after cataract surgery, and examinations of patients referred from Occupational Medicine are also performed...
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