The management of the Podgorica Health Center abolished electronic scheduling for radiological diagnostics in order to shorten waiting lists, but this obviously did not lead to the expected result - some patients received appointments at the end of August for mid-June of the following year.
Since the end of August, "Vijesti" has been contacted by several patients who claim that they received instructions on paper from their chosen doctors, with appointments for May and June 2026.
The Capital City Health Center did not specifically answer the question of whether the abolition of electronic scheduling for this type of diagnostics led to a reduction in the waiting list or whether the opposite happened.
They remind that electronic scheduling was temporarily suspended in 2024 so that "all patients have an available appointment, that is, there are continuously available appointments." They say that waiting lists are expected given the shortage of devices, and more than 200.000 patients from three municipalities - Podgorica, Tuzi and Zeta.
"Previously, as witnessed by patients and numerous headlines in the newspapers, there were often no appointments for X-ray and ultrasound diagnostics and it was not known when they would be released for scheduling by the software. The management that took over the institution in 2024 intended to meet all the needs of patients and organized continuously available appointments, meaning that patients who need radiological diagnostics at the Capital City Health Center could always receive a referral from their doctor and be notified of the appointment within three days," the Health Center claims.
By eliminating electronic scheduling, the Podgorica institution emphasizes, they also wanted to demonstrate "the enormous demand for this type of procedure in our institution."
"Given that we currently have one X-ray machine and five ultrasound machines, and we provide services to 200.000 citizens from three municipalities (Podgorica, Tuzi and Zeta), waiting lists are expected. Here too, we have set priorities in a professional sense: oncology patients and those preparing for surgery are examined within 30 days, while other patients wait their turn. Of course, we are working at full capacity, with the help of consultants - overtime and additional, and the waiting lists for ultrasound examinations have been shortened by three months, while the wait for X-ray examinations is longer. In this sense, the Capital City Health Center has initiated the adaptation of the facility in Tološi with the aim of placing a second X-ray machine there, and we expect that we will have shorter waiting lists for X-ray examinations from the New Year," the Health Center points out.
They also say that the plan is to re-establish the electronic appointment system once another level of waiting list reduction is achieved and additional examination appointments are provided.
"It is important to note that all our patients are called three days before the examination to confirm their arrival time, and of those who confirm the appointment, 25 percent do not come, which creates a problem for other patients who are waiting. The examination can be canceled every working day from 10 a.m. to 13 p.m. by calling the call center 19816," the Health Center specified.
They said that the current systematization provides for eight employed radiologists.
"Currently, six are in the process of being hired. There are also consultants working on an additional basis in order to reduce the waiting list. With the new systematization, the Capital City Health Center is looking for a total of 14 radiologists," they stated.
They also reminded of the deficit of selected doctors for women and children.
"However, at the end of the year and during 2026, we expect the return of colleagues from specializations. This is because for years there has been no adequate health policy in terms of staff planning, and one specialist requires five years of schooling," the Podgorica Health Center concludes.
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