Borovinić Bojović and Niković: Supporting those who protect lives every day

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Dr Jelena Borovinić Bojović visited the Institute for Emergency Medical Care in Podgorica today, where she met with Director Dr Vuko Niković and staff to discuss the work of this important healthcare institution, its day-to-day challenges, and opportunities to further improve working conditions and the quality of healthcare services.

“Citizens must have confidence that the healthcare system will respond quickly, efficiently and effectively when they need assistance the most. It is our responsibility to continuously strengthen the capacities of emergency medical services so that every citizen has access to timely and adequate healthcare. That is precisely why it is important that doctors, medical technicians and all emergency medical care staff have the full support of institutions, adequate working conditions and modern equipment enabling them to perform their duties to the highest standards. Caring for those who care for the lives and health of our citizens every day must remain one of our priorities,” Borovinić Bojović said.

The meeting highlighted the importance of doctors, medical technicians and all emergency medical care staff, whose expertise, responsibility and dedication represent one of the key pillars of the healthcare system.

Director of the Institute for Emergency Medical Care of Montenegro Dr Vuko Niković briefed Deputy Prime Minister Dr Jelena Borovinić Bojović on the Institute’s ongoing activities being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Health. Niković noted that work is underway on new training programmes for medical technicians modelled on those in European Union Member States, the introduction of a paramedic training programme, the development of protocols and the introduction of an IT platform for telemedicine, protocols for receiving requests for home visits, as well as the networking of ECG devices. The Director also presented Dr Borovinić Bojović with the conceptual design for the new building of the Institute for Emergency Medical Care in Podgorica, with construction expected to begin in the coming period.

“Montenegro, as the next country to join the European Union, must improve its emergency medical care system and align it with modern standards in emergency medicine, following the example of European countries. The Institute for Emergency Medical Care works every day to create better working conditions for healthcare professionals and provide them with continuous training, as well as to introduce new technologies that will facilitate and accelerate the provision of emergency medical care, improve communication between doctors and patients, and further strengthen citizens’ confidence in the emergency medical care system. We have the continued support of the Ministry of Health in these efforts,” Niković said.

The interlocutors agreed that continued investment in staff, equipment and working conditions is essential for further strengthening emergency medical care and ensuring high-quality and timely healthcare for citizens. They also jointly considered possible modalities for future joint activities aimed at further improving the quality of services provided by emergency medical care to citizens, both in urban centres and rural areas across Montenegro, with particular emphasis on the accessibility and timeliness of healthcare.

Particular attention was also paid to possible approaches to improving the availability of human resources in the period ahead, particularly doctors.