Tuzi Faces Pharmacy Crisis: Montefarm Forced Out After 12 Years!
Imagine this: the only state pharmacy in the municipality of Tuzi, which has been a pillar of pharmaceutical care for thousands of residents for over a decade, is now on the brink of closure! Montefarm, the pharmacy that has been a tenant in the business premises of Galenika Montenegro for 12 years, has been ordered to vacate the space within the Health Center next week. Why? Because these premises, previously used by Galenika, have been transferred to the ownership of a private company, MK Nova Invest, which refused to extend Montefarm’s lease.
What does this mean for the people of Tuzi?
The closure of the pharmacy is not just a bureaucratic issue – it’s a direct blow to the availability of essential medicines, especially those for specific therapies and treatment of rare and serious diseases. Residents will now have to travel to Podgorica or other cities to obtain medicines they previously accessed locally. Imagine how much this will slow down and complicate their treatment!
How did this happen?
Galenika Montenegro is in bankruptcy proceedings, and the business premises where Montefarm was a tenant have been sold to MK Nova Invest, a company owned by Miloš Komnenić. Despite Montefarm’s requests to extend the lease or even purchase the premises, MK Nova Invest refused to sell or extend the lease. The bankruptcy trustee of Galenika, Dragan Milić, tried to find a solution for at least a few months but failed.
Montefarm received the termination notice on July 3rd, although the letter was registered on June 30th, which further complicated any timely response. Montefarm’s management immediately contacted MK Nova Invest, but their offer was rejected.
What is Montefarm planning?
Montefarm is ready to continue providing services in the Tuzi municipality and is already taking steps to open a new pharmacy. However, even if they quickly secure a suitable space, opening a new pharmacy can take 8 to 12 months due to complex procedures, technical requirements, and regulatory approvals. This means Tuzi residents will be without a state pharmacy for several months, which is unacceptable.
Who is to blame?
Is this just a consequence of Galenika’s bankruptcy, or is there also irresponsibility on the part of the new private company? MK Nova Invest declined to answer journalists’ questions, and the bankruptcy trustee confirmed that the sale of the premises was part of the bankruptcy process. Montefarm and the people of Tuzi are the ones suffering the consequences.
Why does this matter?
This situation is a stark example of how privatization and bankruptcy can jeopardize basic healthcare services. When profit becomes more important than people’s health, the consequences are catastrophic. Montefarm was a cornerstone of pharmaceutical care in Tuzi, and now it’s on the verge of shutting down due to business maneuvers and irresponsibility.
Conclusion
The people of Tuzi are left stranded. Without a state pharmacy, with medicines for serious illnesses that must now be sought far from home, their healthcare is seriously endangered. Montefarm has shown willingness to resolve the issue, but without support from the new company and state institutions, it seems Tuzi will lose its pharmacy.
If you care about healthcare in smaller communities, this story deserves your attention. What do you think? Is this just another example of profit being placed above people? Or is there a way to prevent such situations? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or just say – who’s next in line?
Source: Vijesti.me
