Kadić: Šimun is well on his way to becoming one of the worst health ministers Montenegro has ever had

As a doctor and director of the Health Insurance Fund of Montenegro, I express my astonishment, unfortunately not surprise, at the cancellation of the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Labor and Social Welfare, which was scheduled for today, November 3, 2025, at which, in addition to myself and the director of "Montefarm", the ministers of health and finance - Vojislav Šimun and Novica Vuković - were supposed to answer the questions of the deputies, Vuk Kadić, director of the Health Insurance Fund of Montenegro, announced today.

He stated in a statement that Šimun is well on his way to becoming one of the worst health ministers Montenegro has ever had.

"It is incredible, but it seems expected, that at a time when the Montenegrin healthcare system is facing numerous and deep problems, when we witness major challenges every day, when tragic events such as the death of a newborn in a maternity ward and a young woman in a Nikšić hospital are occurring - those most responsible are absent. Instead of facing questions and answers from the public and MPs, the relevant ministers are avoiding obligations that are essentially related to their duty. It is even more regrettable that they are being helped in this by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Petrić, who is a member of the Europe Now Movement (PES), and who, according to party directives, saves his ministers from public embarrassment, although neither he nor anyone else can save them from the ignorance and incompetence they have shown during their mandate," Kadić pointed out in a statement.

He added that for more than a year, he has been warning "about a series of serious shortcomings and systemic deficiencies in the healthcare sector, as citizens, healthcare workers and institutions contact us every day, pointing to the alarming state of healthcare."

"However, it is obvious that even that was not a sufficient reason for the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance to appear before the Committee and provide answers to questions that concern all of us living in Montenegro. The explanation for why the Minister of Health canceled his attendance at the Committee session is particularly devastating, and that is participation in an international event that, according to the platform prepared by the Ministry of Health, aims to 'provide technical follow-up events on urgent issues of water, sanitation and hygiene'. That event, under the auspices of UNECE and WHO/Europe, has been taking place since Wednesday, November 5, in Hungary, but it is obvious that the Minister set off on his journey as early as Monday in order to 'adequately prepare' for the topics from his portfolio," said Kadić.

He said that "the issues of water and sanitation are important, but at a time when the country's healthcare system is in a serious crisis, when patients are facing a shortage of essential medicines, when healthcare workers are working in an overloaded system, and citizens are losing trust in institutions - the Minister of Health decides to prioritize traveling abroad, instead of answering questions before people's representatives and the entire public."

"I would like to remind you that it is the obligation of every minister, especially in the health sector, to be accessible to the public and the institutions of the system, and not to avoid facing reality. Instead of hastily trying to constitute a new composition of the Fund's Management Board, in order to implement a politically motivated and pre-prepared replacement of the director at all costs, it would be much more useful for them to devote themselves to solving pressing problems in the health system," said Kadić.

In his words, "irresponsibility towards citizens, who pay the price of a dysfunctional system every day, can no longer be covered up with trips, protocol events, and bureaucratic excuses."

"Ministers are expected to be responsible, present and active, not absent. However, both ministers have shown how much courage and knowledge they have, because not once since the crisis began have they deigned to come out in public and say anything about this issue, let alone make a proposal for its resolution. For that, it is necessary that they understand the subject, and that requires a little more than a degree from an unaccredited private university and a little more than two years of work in a hospital as a gynecologist specialist," said Kadić.

He also stated that the Montenegrin healthcare system requires a serious, dedicated and transparent approach.

"Anything else is disrespectful to the citizens and the state they represent. I believe that the Minister of Health, Dr. Vojislav Šimun, by participating in the meeting on the Protocol on Water and Health to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, will receive valuable information of 'exceptional importance' for the Montenegrin health system. Citizens are eagerly awaiting the conclusions from the meeting, and especially health workers, who are waiting with attention and hope to hear how to best apply new knowledge on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes in practice. Because, only after that meeting in Budapest, it seems, can the prosperity of our health system begin," said Kadić.

He said that "this seemingly ridiculous situation is, unfortunately, very sad and tragic because it shows that the healthcare system has been given into the hands of a man who does not have the slightest responsibility towards the citizens to whom he is obliged to provide the most basic - effective medical treatment."

"However, everything in life is temporary, and so will the mandate of Vojislav Šimun, who is well on his way to becoming one of the worst health ministers Montenegro has ever had," said Kadić.