Residents of Tuzi will be left without the only state-owned pharmacy next week, which supplies patients with prescription drugs and other therapies for serious and rare diseases, after the bankrupt "Galenika Crna Gora" informed the health institution "Montefarm" that the lease agreements have been terminated.
The business premises of "Galenika" in Tuzi and Risan, where "Montefarm" was a tenant for 12 years, were transferred last month to the ownership of a private company - the secured creditor "MK Nova Invest".
That company, despite pleas from the management of "Montefarma", did not want to prolong the eviction in Tuzi until the health institution found another adequate space and obtained the necessary permits, nor did it want to sell them the property.
Bankruptcy trustee of “Galenika” Dragan Milić said that he insisted on finding an agreement to continue the lease or purchase the space, while MK Nova Invest did not want to answer questions from Vijesti yesterday. The contract between Galenika in bankruptcy and Montefarm from 2019 stipulated that the lease would last until the sale in bankruptcy proceedings.
They found out about the breakup four days later.
"Montefarm" confirmed to "Vijesti" yesterday that on July 3, they received a notification by e-mail from the bankrupt company "Galenika Crna Gora", informing them about a unilateral lease agreement for space in Tuzi and Risan.
They explain that this pharmacy institution has been continuously providing pharmaceutical healthcare to the residents of these places since 2013.
Although the letter was filed in the Galenika archives on June 30, Montefarm only received it on July 3, when the termination had effectively already taken effect. This, they claim, further hampered the possibility of any timely reaction on their part.
"Immediately upon receiving the notice of termination of the contract, the management of 'Montefarm' contacted the authorized representatives of the new owner - the company "MK Nova Invest", with the sincere and responsible intention to continue renting the space, aware of the fact that in Tuzi and Risan these are the only state pharmacies and that their closure would directly jeopardize the availability of essential medicines for a large number of citizens. Unfortunately, our offer was not accepted," the response of the institution it manages reads. Aleksandar Bogavac.
"Montefarm" says that they have also expressed their willingness to purchase the space that they have been using for public health services for more than 12 years, but that this initiative has not received a response either.
"We have been ordered to move out of the pharmacy in Tuzi next week, that is, to hand over the premises, which, despite the contradictions and short deadline, we will be forced to carry out in accordance with legal regulations. As for the pharmacy in Risan, we have been promised that they will consider the possibility of continuing the lease," the response to "Vijesti" reads.
The bankruptcy trustee insisted on an agreement.
Bankruptcy trustee Dragan Milić told "Vijesti" that he insisted on extending the lease for at least a few months, submitting a letter that was sent to "Montefarm" on June 30th.
In that letter, Milić informs "Monrefarm" that "Galenika Crna Gora" in bankruptcy has drawn up a notarial contract for the sale of real estate as a procedure for a more favorable way of cashing in on the property with the secured creditor of the bankruptcy debtor "MK Nova Invest", who has taken ownership of the business premises.
These are pharmacies within the Tuzi Health Center and the Risan Health Station. According to the letter, the lease agreements will expire on the same day, June 30th.
"In order for the lessee, the health institution of the Pharmacy of Montenegro 'Montefarm', not to suffer any harmful consequences based on the termination of the lease agreement, due to our very good business cooperation that was established during the entire period of leased use of the business premises, for your further continuation of the lease or purchase of the aforementioned pharmacies, I inform you that in connection with the above, you can contact the authorized person 'MK Nova Invest'...", Milić's letter reads.
The company "MK Nova Invest" is owned by Miloš Komnenić.
It takes 12 months for a new pharmacy
"Montefarm" says that the closure of the pharmacy in Tuzi represents a serious blow to the availability of pharmaceutical healthcare in that municipality.
"We would like to remind you that the state pharmacy is located within the Tuzi Health Center and that, since the construction of the facility, it has continuously been a support for thousands of citizens in exercising their rights to medicines, especially those on the List of Medicines of the Health Insurance Fund, as well as so-called specific therapies with a special prescription and dispensing regime," they said.
They claim that by closing the pharmacy, citizens will be forced to travel to Podgorica and other cities for numerous therapies, including medications for the treatment of rare and serious diseases, which will further complicate and slow down their treatment.
"Montefarm is ready and determined to continue providing services in the territory of the municipality of Tuzi and we are already taking concrete steps towards opening a new pharmacy. However, we emphasize that opening a new pharmacy, even if we manage to secure adequate space that meets all legal and technical requirements in a short period of time, requires between 8 and 12 months due to the complexity of procedures, technical equipment, regulatory approvals and the process of organizing personnel," the response reads.
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