Imagine the government, which is supposed to take care of your health, literally shutting down the only state pharmacy in your town! Yes, you read that right. In Tuzi, a municipality where Montefarm has been a pillar of pharmaceutical care for 12 years, a cold shower is coming – the pharmacy is closing because the new owner of the premises, a private company MK Nova Invest, refuses to extend the lease or sell the space. Although Montefarm offered to buy the space or at least extend the lease, the response was as cold as ice. The result? The people of Tuzi are left without access to essential medicines, including those for treating rare and serious diseases. And to make matters worse, opening a new pharmacy is no joke – it takes between 8 and 12 months to complete all procedures. Meanwhile, patients will have to travel to Podgorica or other cities, which can seriously endanger their health. This is not just a problem for Tuzi, but a symptom of a wider issue in Montenegrin healthcare where drug prices are rising and the public system cannot meet citizens’ needs. Monstat data shows that prices of health services and medicines have increased by 13.5% in the past year. Instead of investing in public healthcare, the state allocates millions to private clinics and pharmacies, while ordinary people suffer. Is this the right path? Is citizens’ health just a commodity for profit? If you have something to say about this chaos, feel free to drop a comment – maybe your word can spark change!
