Last year, Montenegro sent 4.784 patients abroad for treatment, control and diagnostic procedures, the Health Insurance Fund (FZO) announced.
From that institution, they specified that in 4.456, 2016 insured persons of the Fund were referred to health institutions in Serbia for treatment, control and diagnostic procedures.
"Serbian institutions invoiced EUR 4,92 million for treatment costs. EUR 574.720 was paid for the travel costs of insured persons who traveled to Serbia for treatment," the FZO told the Mina agency.
As they clarified, in 2016, 328 insured persons were referred for treatment, control and diagnostics in other foreign health institutions, while 2,09 million euros were paid for treatment costs.
"In 2016, EUR 171.320 was paid for the travel expenses of insured persons who traveled for treatment to other foreign countries," adds the FZO.
They clarified that for treatments that cannot be performed in public health institutions, as well as in health institutions with which the Fund has concluded a contract in Montenegro, insured persons are referred for treatment abroad according to the prescribed procedure.
According to them, referral for treatment abroad is made on the proposal of the council of the appropriate specialty of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG), and for children, on the proposal of the council of the Institute for Children's Diseases of the KCCG, and approval from the Fund's Medical Committees.
"The only procedure followed in this way entails the right to have the costs of treatment covered by the mandatory health insurance, that is, by the funds of the Fund," they emphasize from that institution.
They claim that the procedure takes a week at most.
"Within this period, the Fund receives the request and medical documentation, presents it to the Medical Commission for consideration and adoption of findings and opinions on the approval of referral for treatment, makes a decision on referral and contacts the health institution for admission to treatment," said the FZO.
They stated that for referring patients to treatment in Serbia, the procedure and referral is issued within two to three days.
The FZO explains that the basic criterion for referral to a certain foreign institution is the proposal of the KCCG doctor's council.
"The referral is made to health institutions of the public health system of Serbia with which the Fund has a contract (KCS, VMA, Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases Dedinje, GAK Narodni Front, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Children's Hospital Tiršova, Institute for Mother and Child Health Care "Dr. Vukan Čupić", Institute of Neonatology), specify from the FZO.
According to their words, until now the policyholders have referred to the proposal of the council in other countries, namely - Croatia (KBC "Rebro" Zagreb), Slovenia (KC Ljubljana, General Hospital Slovenj Gradec), Turkey (Acibadem Istanbul), Italy (San Camillo Forlanini Rome, Azienda ospedaliera Padua, Institut Rizzoli Bologna), Austria (AKH Vienna), Germany (Eppendorf Hamburg, St. Franziskus Flensburg, University Clinic Frankfurt).
Bonus video:
