Thousands of patients were left without their chosen gynecologist after the doctor Jelena Knežević, after two decades of work in public health, left the Capital City Health Center.
According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", Knežević resigned at the end of June, and her last working day was June 29. A day later, a new rulebook came into effect, specifying that the use of maternity, paternity or parental leave cannot be an obstacle to performing additional work.
Knežević had not previously received approval for additional work because she had been on parental leave for more than three months during the year before submitting the request, which is why the Medical Doctors' Union (SDMCG) filed a complaint with the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms for discrimination.
President of the Union of Medical Doctors Milena Popović Samardžić claims that the management of the Health Center, even after the change in the regulations, did not inform Knežević that the reason for which she was previously rejected had been removed, nor did they attempt to keep her in the institution.
The Health Center responded that when deciding on her request earlier, they were obliged to apply the regulations that were in force at the time. They stated that they "regret" the doctor's departure, but that they respect her right to cancel her employment contract.
SDMCG: No apologies or attempts to keep her
Popović Samardžić assessed that the Knežević case shows how the legally guaranteed right to parental leave in Montenegrin public healthcare has been turned into a basis for professional discrimination.
"Dr. Knežević was denied permission to work part-time because she was on parental leave. The management of the Podgorica Health Center and the Ministry of Health justified this decision by interpreting the Regulations on Detailed Conditions for Performing Part-time Work, according to which a healthcare worker was not allowed to be absent from work for more than three months in the year prior to submitting the request," she said.
According to Popović Samardžić, the authorities treated parental leave, even though it is a legally guaranteed right, as an obstacle to exercising labor rights.
She said that it was particularly worrying that the rulebook had in the meantime been amended precisely in the way that the Union had requested from the beginning.
"Additionally worrying is the fact that on June 30, 2026, an amendment to the Rulebook was made, which clearly specifies that exercising the right to maternity leave does not deny the right to perform additional work, which the Medical Doctors' Union has emphasized from the beginning," said Popović Samardžić.
He claims that the management of the Podgorica Health Center did not contact Knežević after the change.
"Despite this, the management of the Podgorica Health Center did not find it necessary to inform Dr. Knežević about this change, apologize to her, and try to change her decision so that she would remain in the institution," she said.
Popović Samardžić believes that such a relationship shows "the degree of irresponsibility in the management of this health institution and the fact that patients' rights come last."
Health Center: Three doctors available in Block Five
The Capital City Health Center said that Knežević is formally employed until the end of her notice period, after she herself submitted a request to terminate her employment contract. However, according to unofficial information from "Vijesti", the doctor is on leave until the end of her notice period.
They pointed out that when deciding on a request for additional work, they were obliged to apply the then-current Regulation on detailed conditions for performing additional work by healthcare workers and healthcare associates.
They point out that according to that regulation, the doctor did not meet the requirement that she had not been absent from work for more than three months during the year prior to submitting the request.
"When approving requests for additional work, our institution is obliged to apply the Regulations that were in force at the time when Dr. Jelena Knežević submitted the request," they announced.
The institution said that the new regulations came into effect on June 30th and now allow additional work for healthcare workers who have been absent for more than three months due to maternity, paternity or parental leave.
They explained that the new solution also applies to certain cases of temporary incapacity for work for which salary compensation is provided in the amount of 100 percent of the compensation basis.
"The Capital City Health Center extremely regrets the decision of Dr. Jelena Knežević to terminate her employment with our institution, but management fully respects her legal and personal right to submit a request for termination of her employment contract," they said.
The Health Center responded that patients who were registered with Knežević can choose another doctor for women at the Blok Pet health facility.
According to them, three gynecology and obstetrics specialists are available for registration, and patients can contact the medical staff at the counter to make a choice.
The procedure before the Ombudsman is ongoing.
"Vijesti" reported in March that the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms was investigating whether the Podgorica Health Center and the Ministry of Health discriminated against Knežević on the basis of gender, after she was not allowed to work overtime due to taking parental leave. The Ombudsman confirmed at the time that he had requested statements from both institutions.
According to the documentation that "Vijesti" had access to at the time, Knežević used parental leave from December 20, 2024 to June 8, 2025. She submitted a request for additional work on September 18, and the Health Center rejected it six days later, explaining that she had been absent for more than three months in the previous year.
The Ministry of Health, in its interpretation of the disputed provision, stated that the condition covers all leave, including parental leave, and that it is no different from other leaves for the purposes of approving additional work. The department then announced that a dissatisfied healthcare worker can seek protection in court.
"The Medical Doctors' Union has warned from the beginning that such an interpretation is discriminatory and that it represents punishment of women for motherhood. That is why a procedure was initiated before the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms more than six months ago. To date, there has been no response," Popović Samardžić told "Vijesti" yesterday.
Institutions remained silent, the consequences are visible
Popović Samardžić claims that Knežević left the public healthcare system after 20 years of work, and that the institution's management did not interview her or attempt to eliminate the reasons for her departure.
"While the institutions remained silent, the consequences were developing - Dr. Knežević left the Podgorica Health Center and the state healthcare system after 20 years of working there," she said.
She stated that Knežević had "taken care of more than 6.000 registered patients" for years.
"The institution's management did not find it necessary to have at least one conversation with the doctor who had cared for more than 6.000 registered patients for years, to try to eliminate the reasons for her departure or to keep her in the system. It did not even show basic professional responsibility towards the patients who were left without their chosen doctor," Popović Samardžić assessed.
Doctor departures are a chronic health problem
Popović Samardžić claims that Knežević's departure is not an isolated case.
"A pediatrician recently left the Podgorica Health Center, and according to the information we have, several other pediatricians are seriously considering leaving the institution," she said.
She also recalled the example of a pediatrician from the Tivat Health Center, who also left the state healthcare system.
"The doctor who was the only pediatrician in the state health system of that municipality for years and the director of the Health Center, despite her exceptional professional engagement and work results, eventually left the state health system due to the attitude of the health authorities. The citizens of Tivat still feel the consequences of such an attitude today," said Popović Samardžić.
She believes that, due to the repetition of such cases, it is no longer possible to speak only of individual failures.
"It's about a pattern of behavior," she said.
According to her, there is a discrepancy between the Ministry of Health's claims that it is working to address the shortage of doctors and the actions of health authorities and the management of individual institutions.
"Experienced and proven doctors are leaving the state healthcare system not because they do not want to treat citizens, but because the system humiliates them, discriminates against them and shows that their work and dedication are not worthy of any serious discussion," said Popović Samardžić.
She also warned that the opportunity is not given even to the best students. She recalled that in a recent competition for specialization in the field of clinical biochemistry, right at the Podgorica Health Center, one of the best students of the Faculty of Medicine was given a zero grade in an oral interview. The specialization, Popović Samardžić said, was granted to a candidate with a lower average during her studies and a lower grade in biochemistry.
"The consequences of such a policy are borne mostly by citizens who are left without their doctors, with longer waiting lists and less access to healthcare. Therefore, responsibility for the departure of doctors from public healthcare can no longer be attributed to the market or the private sector, but to the health authorities, whose actions actively create a shortage of personnel," concluded Popović Samardžić.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
