Borovinić Bojović in Pisa: Donations and specialist training in focus of future cooperation

On the second day of her working visit to Italy, Deputy Prime Minister for Health and Social Welfare Jelena Borovinić Bojović visited Cisanello University Hospital in Pisa, where she was welcomed by Hospital Director Katia Belvedere and Professor Roberto Cioni, a specialist in interventional radiology.

During the visit, the capacities of this prominent Italian university hospital were presented, along with opportunities to enhance cooperation with Montenegro’s healthcare system through professional collaboration, training for healthcare workers and a significant donation of modern medical equipment.

Donating equipment is important, but the real result of cooperation will come when we use modern technology to build stronger domestic professional capacities as well. It is impressive to see how a major university hospital brings together modern technology, advanced medicine, science and continuous training. We want our doctors and other healthcare workers to have the opportunity to work and learn in such an environment through professional exchanges and further training, and then transfer the knowledge they acquire to our healthcare system, Borovinić Bojović said.

Italy’s announced support will focus on four areas of particular importance for the further development of Montenegro’s healthcare system: interventional radiology, radiology, surgery and the application of the most advanced robotic technologies in surgery.

Cooperation in interventional radiology is particularly significant. Through modern minimally invasive procedures, this field enables the treatment of complex conditions, the control of life-threatening bleeding and, in certain cases, the preservation of organs and limbs.

The Montenegrin delegation toured the robotic surgery centre, where it was introduced to modern multidisciplinary team practices and the application of advanced technologies in radiology and surgery, including 3D reconstruction, artificial intelligence, image-guided procedures and robotic surgery.

Cisanello University Hospital represents an important integration of healthcare, education and scientific research, with well-developed programmes for specialist training, clinical research and the application of modern medical technologies.

Future cooperation will include a donation of medical equipment, as well as a further substantial donation announced in support of the development of Montenegro’s healthcare system, alongside professional visits, the exchange of experience and training for Montenegrin healthcare workers. Particular attention was given to the possibility of providing specialist trainees from the University of Montenegro with further training in interventional radiology in Italy.

We want modern equipment to be accompanied by modern knowledge. That is why our focus is on the people who will operate it – our doctors, nurses and specialist teams. Only in this way can we speak of the sustainable modernisation of the healthcare system, Borovinić Bojović emphasised.

As a next step in the cooperation, a return visit by the Italian delegation to Montenegro was announced in connection with the planned substantial donation from Cisanello University Hospital in Pisa to the Clinical Centre of Montenegro. During the visit, the parties will further define concrete models of support, professional exchanges and closer links between the healthcare institutions of the two countries.

This cooperation is in line with Montenegro’s European integration process and its efforts to further align the national healthcare system with European standards, practices and modern treatment models by strengthening institutions, professional capacities and the quality of healthcare.