The sanitary and health inspection within the Ministry of Health last year carried out around 7.600 inspections, identified almost 3.000 irregularities and issued misdemeanor orders worth around 934.000 euros.
According to the report on the work of the Ministry of Health, sanitary inspectors carried out almost 7.000 inspections, and around 2.500 irregularities they found related to mandatory health examinations and carrier status, violations of the Law on the Protection of the Population from Communicable Diseases in terms of implementing hygiene measures, violations of regulations on safe water for human consumption, on cosmetic products, toys, cleaning products... Among the irregularities found were violations of the smoking ban in public and work spaces and the lack of a sanitary permit.
During 2024, the Sanitary Inspection issued more than 2.000 misdemeanor orders in the amount of almost 800.000 euros, of which about half a million euros were collected, while orders for forced collection were filed for the rest.
The inspection filed misdemeanor charges against 160 parents for refusing mandatory vaccination of their children.
Fines totaling 15.830 euros were imposed for smoking in the workplace and failure to display the no-smoking sign.
The health inspection carried out 650 inspections last year and found around 300 irregularities, for which it issued misdemeanor orders in the amount of around 138.000 euros. According to data from the work report, the inspection mostly inspected private health institutions, followed by public ones, while a smaller number of inspections related to the payment of salary compensation during sick leave, the work of sports clubs and beauty salons...
The most frequently identified irregularities related to the lack of documentation for medical staff, improper maintenance of medical documentation, dispensing of medicines contrary to regulations, and the lack of a decision from the Ministry of Health on the fulfillment of work conditions. According to the report, in 12 cases, the performance of health activities or part of the activity was prohibited, several prohibitions were issued to health workers, and five decisions were issued on the prohibition of the sale of medical devices. The health inspection also monitored compliance with the Law on Restricting the Use of Tobacco Products in Health Institutions and issued 15 misdemeanor orders worth around 2.600 euros.
217 specializations approved
Within the Directorate for Health Care, Regulated Professions and Supervision of the Functioning of Chambers, 212 procedures were conducted last year to determine whether health institutions meet the requirements regarding space, staff and equipment for their work. According to the data, 49 health institutions were officially established.
The Ministry of Health points out that last year, together with the Union, they secured a 10 percent incentive for almost 10.000 employees who are middle-level medical staff, the Meljine Hospital was integrated into the public health system, and dental health care for children with disabilities and developmental disabilities was improved.
Among other things, the Annual Plan for Specializations and Narrow Specializations for 2024 was adopted, which approved 217 specializations and 52 narrow specializations.
24 new drugs introduced at budget expense
According to the work report, several regulations and cancer screening programs have been improved within the Directorate of Public Health and Biomedicine, and cooperation with the Military Medical Academy from Serbia on transplants has been established. The report also recalls that cooperation has been established with a clinic in Minsk to refer five patients for organ transplantation from a deceased donor.
The part of the report that refers to the work of the Directorate for Pharmacology, Precursors and Cosmetic Products states that 24 new medications were added to the list of medicines last year, and the indications for five innovative medicines were expanded. They claim that medicines for two forms of breast cancer were included, a modern innovative medicine for prostate cancer was approved, and five new medicines for infectious diseases were added, including HIV.
"In addition to oncology drugs, therapy for rheumatological diseases (lupus), gastroenterological (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), neurological (multiple sclerosis), nephrological, ophthalmological, pulmonary and other diseases has been approved. Over 100 generic drugs have been included for which there was already a therapeutic option on the List," the report says.
Around 1,7 million euros in donations to hospitals
Last year, the Ministry of Health gave 96 approvals to receive donations in health institutions, worth around 1,7 million euros.
Medical devices worth over 600.000 were donated, as well as 347.319 in cash. The largest individual donation was an automated digital X-ray machine for the Children's Hospital in Podgorica, worth 90.000 euros, followed by cancer medicine for the Institute of Oncology worth around 77.000.
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