The Health Insurance Fund paid out 8,9 million euros for sick leave last year, and there were 1.033.812 lost working days - about 20 percent less than in 2023.
This is shown in the report on the work of the Health Insurance Fund, which was adopted by the Government yesterday. According to the document, a total of 54.430 requests for temporary incapacity for work lasting over 30 days were considered last year, submitted by 11.922 insured persons. The number of insured persons who submitted requests for sick leave longer than 30 days has decreased compared to previous years, which, according to the Health Insurance Fund, which is managed by Vuk Kadic, the result of tightened controls implemented last year. There is a noticeable increase in the percentage of completed sick leave (30,82 percent), which is the highest in the past five years.
During the past year, 31 targeted checks were conducted and 30 cases of sick leave were ordered to be suspended.
The Council of the First Instance Medical Commission, which was formed with the task of considering and resolving cases that determine the justification of hospital treatment during a stay abroad, as well as the reimbursement of medical expenses when emergency health care was provided without prior confirmation of the right to such services, also considered 204 requests for reimbursement of medical expenses outside Montenegro last year. The report does not specify the outcome of these requests.
Last year, the Commission for Treatment Abroad, based on the proposal of the Council of Doctors of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG) and the Council for Treatment Abroad, sent 1.032 patients for treatment outside Montenegro. Regional units and branches sent a total of 2.711 insured persons for treatment, control and diagnostics to health institutions in Serbia.
Treatment abroad in Serbia, Turkey and other countries recommended by doctors last year cost around 14 million euros. On the other hand, private healthcare institutions in Montenegro were paid around 11,6 million.
"In 2024, the In Vitro Fertilization Commission began its work, dealing with the reimbursement of embryo transfer and embryo freezing. Composed of specialist doctors who deal with this field, it has greatly contributed to improving the efficiency of exercising the rights of insured persons in this area. Since its formation in June 2024, over 30 sessions have been held with over 400 cases (refunds) completed," the report states.
Regional units and branches of the Health Insurance Fund had 254.180 requests last year. 51.382 requests were recorded for the right to aids, 105.630 for the right to transportation costs, and 4.847 requests for reimbursement of purchased medicine. 3.302 patients were referred for treatment outside the public healthcare system in Montenegro through branches and regional units, while the central office of the Health Insurance Fund referred 992 insured persons.
"Compared to the previous year, there was an increase in the number of people referred for treatment abroad of 8,2 percent, which is the result of establishing cooperation with new centers in the region..."
The number of patients referred for rehabilitation in Igalo in 2024 also increased by 9,1 percent, which is the result of expanding rights through changes to the regulations.
The Department for International Health Insurance, through the Ministry of Health, initiated the conclusion of an agreement on the use of the European Health Insurance Card with Croatia, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria and Hungary. The report states that only the Czech Republic responded positively, proposing a date for talks in the second quarter of this year, while the other countries have not yet responded to the initiatives.
According to the report, around 166,2 million euros were paid out to employees in public healthcare institutions last year, or 1,7 percent less than planned. Statistics from the Health Insurance Fund show that in 2024, the number of employees in public healthcare is 75, of which 53 are medical staff.
Last year, Montefarm invoiced the Health Insurance Fund for around 153.065.892 euros for medicines, medical devices and aids. Around 79 million euros were for purchases for public health institutions, and around 74 million for state pharmacies. The Health Insurance Fund paid an additional 27 million euros to private pharmacies for prescription medicines.
Last year, around 23 million euros were paid for medical consumables, while expenses for medical waste removal amounted to around one million, which is at the level of the previous two years.
Bonus video:
