The Committee on Health, Labor and Social Welfare unanimously decided to propose to the Parliament of Montenegro to adopt amendments to the Law on Mandatory Health Insurance. They also unanimously decided to hold a consultative hearing with the Minister of Health, Vojislav Šimun, on the topic of coverage of children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.
Representative of the proposer and member of parliament of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Jelena Kljajević she said that today they were discussing a very important law for which she "owes gratitude to Mrs. Maja Gardašević".
"This is a woman who, with her organization, helps people suffering from the most serious illnesses. We are all witnesses that there is almost no one who has not had someone who is an oncology patient. We know how difficult these battles are," said Kljajević.
The DNP MP recalled that the non-governmental organization (NGO) "Breathe" submitted an initiative proposing the introduction of free BRCA testing and mastectomy with breast reconstruction into the mandatory health insurance system.
"The BRCA I and II tests identify mutations in genes that are responsible for five to ten cases of breast cancer and 10 to 15 cases of ovarian cancer... A positive test result also has consequences for other family members, because the mutation can be passed on to offspring. Children of a person who carries the mutation have a 50 percent greater chance of inheriting it."
Vučević: It is important to define who is at increased risk
Member of the SNP Bogdan Božović He said that the NGO initiative "Breathe" deserves absolute support.
"The essence of modern health policy is the timely detection and prevention of the development of the disease. I think that by providing BRCA testing at the expense of the state, women who have a family history of cancer are somehow given the opportunity to recognize this risk in time... If we know that one box of cytostatics for a month of therapy costs several times more than the test itself, there is also that economic part that is not important at the moment... I believe that this is not a cost, but an investment in the health, dignity and lives of our citizens," he said.
Europe Now Message Dragana Vucevic She said that prevention is the key to the health system's work. She said that they don't need to talk about the importance of prevention, especially when it comes to breast cancer.
"Which is very aggressive... It is estimated that around 400 women are affected annually. If it is just one case, it is important to talk about these things, and not about such a large number. These are life topics that we need to talk about," Vučević believes.
She said that the health department would determine the exact criteria "in order to create a special group of patients who would enter this type of testing."
She emphasized that it is very important to precisely define who is at increased risk.
Member of the URA Civic Movement Milena Vuković She stated that anyone who has stayed at the Oncology Institute "knows what the conditions are like."
Vuković also claims that "four doctors work in the medical part of Oncology."
"That's a terribly small number. The Institute of Oncology serves the entire country, because there are no conditions to open an Oncology department in the north... That's exactly why we need to work much more on prevention," she said.
Vučević said that the workload of doctors is high, adding that the dedication of the entire staff is at a high level. She reminded that for a patient, "it is not just the medicine that is the therapy," but the complete conditions in which they are staying.
Dobričanin: Breast cancer is a progressive disease
Europe Now Club Member Vladimir Dobričanin He said it was unnecessary to ask whether he would support such an initiative.
"We are not talking about women who are sick, but about those who are potentially sick. Of course, these are not all women... There are clear indications for which women will undergo a subcutaneous mastectomy. This means that all the glandular breast tissue is removed, leaving the skin and nipple. Primarily, reconstruction is done using silicone implants," said Dobricanin.
He said that "the breast is one of the synonyms of femininity," emphasizing that "its removal has a great impact on the psychology and psyche of a woman as a human being."
He assessed that society still does not understand how big a problem breast cancer is, because if we did, he claims, "we would have national screening today and every month would be Pink October."
"I don't want to belittle other cancers, far from it, but lung and breast cancer are the two cancers that account for three-fifths of malignancies. They are the ones that people die from most often, when it comes to malignancies."
Dobricanin warned that breast cancer is "a progressive disease," adding that "it is true that we are very bad in terms of survival":
"Not because we don't know how to treat. Montenegro has by far the best list of oncology drugs. There is no country in Europe that has such an oncology list."
He said that the most modern surgical procedures are performed in Montenegro and that we have three consultancies.
"There is no waiting list. There is no waiting list for breast cancer. If you are diagnosed, you will be operated on within a few weeks. We meet the world standard of four to six weeks," said Dobricanin.
Boris Mugoša, a member of parliament from the Social Democrats of Montenegro, said that the proposal is in the process as of November 26th.
"So it's been in the parliamentary procedure for six months. It's particularly unacceptable that we don't have the government's opinion. We don't have an answer," Mugoša said, adding that "that's not appropriate."
He emphasized that there must be no shortage of funds, especially "because there is some in the budget."
"It's good that we have opened up numerous topics. The biggest mistake of this system, in continuity, is that the least funds are allocated for prevention. Instead, we deal with the treatment of consequences, which are much more expensive... So, this is a contribution to strengthening prevention," Mugoša assessed.
Gardašević: I speak on behalf of women who are no longer here
Director of the NGO "Disi" Maja Gardašević She said that this was an emotional day for her. She emphasized that she knows what fear, helplessness, and "waiting for the results" look like.
"I came here today because of the thousands of women in Montenegro who are waiting for their check-ups. Today, a large number of them are waiting for their ultrasound, mammogram, and several women were also sent for a breast MRI because they felt something that, according to the doctors, was suspicious."
She said that the Law on Mandatory Health Insurance talks about the possibility for a woman to find out if she is at risk and to react before the disease develops. She emphasized that free BRCA testing is not a cost.
"If one girl does not have to go through the traumas that generations before her went through, then this Law has fulfilled its purpose," Gardašević pointed out.
She said her mother "has no voice today."
"Many women we lost do not have a voice. That's why I'm here today to speak on their behalf and on behalf of thousands of women who are fearfully waiting for an examination, a diagnosis and an answer. Please, let's not wait for the disease to knock on the door to react. Let's give women the opportunity to protect themselves before it's too late," said Gardašević.
She said that there is no list for radiotherapy.
"All patients were treated on time, and all of them are very satisfied with the healthcare workers."
Kljajević thanked the doctors who "sacrificingly give their all in the fight for all medical workers who are going through difficult battles."
"I know what these battles are like. I have been through it and continue to go through it with my family. This is a great victory for all of us today. I am glad that all my colleagues came, voted and gave their selfless support to all of this," she said.
Mugoša: Question Šimon for control
Mugoša proposed that Health Minister Vojislav Šimun be questioned on the topic of coverage of children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.
He said it was time to reopen the topic after three years. He thought the results would be better:
"However, as time goes by, we see that very little of this has been implemented, and that we have many challenges in practice."
Mugoša said that this is an issue that, he claims, provokes different opinions.
"According to UNICEF data, the percentage of children born in 2024 that have been vaccinated is 13 percent. Which is the lowest in Europe... For example, in 2013, that percentage was 88 percent. It is very important that we discuss everything transparently and honestly on this committee," Mugoša said.
Dobricanin said that in this case "the healthcare system has absolutely no responsibility."
"The responsibility here lies with those who are trying to mislead this people on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and other networks."
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