Health in Montenegro

An izabrani doktor is the chosen primary doctor who coordinates much of a patient's planned care. A Dom zdravlja is a primary health centre. Insured children up to age 15 generally choose a paediatrician, people over 15 choose an adult doctor, and women may additionally choose a gynaecologist. A person selects or changes the doctor by signing the relevant Izjava o izboru-promjeni izabranog doktora; current lists are displayed at health institutions and Fond za zdravstveno osiguranje Crne Gore (FZO) units. A chosen dentist is especially relevant for people under 18 and over 65 under the applicable rules. Montenegro's public system has three levels. Primary care is provided mainly through Dom zdravlja and is designed to handle about 80–85% of health needs, although actual capacity differs by municipality. Secondary care includes specialist outpatient services, general hospitals and specialised hospitals. Tertiary care is centred on Klinički centar Crne Gore (KCCG), the national referral centre. Hospital care can include wards and day hospitals. A typical planned process begins with a primary consultation, examination or treatment, continues with an uput when specialist or hospital care is needed, and returns to primary care for documentation and follow-up. The izabrani doktor may prescribe therapy, order secondary or tertiary treatment, determine temporary incapacity, arrange home treatment or care, issue a travel order, prescribe home medical aids and refer for rehabilitation. The Institut za javno zdravlje Crne Gore (IJZCG) prepares prevention programmes and instructions. Public-health work includes vaccination, control of communicable diseases, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mental-health risks, as well as tobacco, alcohol, diet and physical inactivity. The Government adopted the Immunization Measures Programme 2026–2028, but schedules, campaigns and local implementation should be checked with IJZCG, the Ministry of Health or the relevant Dom zdravlja. Prenatal care, child prevention and counselling involve the chosen paediatrician, chosen gynaecologist, maternity or general hospitals and KCCG. Urgent pregnancy, newborn or child symptoms require emergency care. For a life-threatening emergency, call 124 for medical emergency services or 112, the unified European emergency number. Give the exact location, the person's condition, hazards and a callback number. Emergency care operates at the scene, during transport and in emergency units around the clock. Severe breathing problems, chest pain, major bleeding, loss of consciousness, suspected stroke, severe allergic reaction, suicidal crisis, psychosis or severe intoxication require 124, 112 or the nearest emergency department rather than waiting for a routine appointment. Diagnostics are available through primary diagnostic centres and specialist or hospital services, but the available tests and booking process depend on the institution. Bring identification, insurance evidence when relevant, previous findings and a current medicine and allergy list. Keep laboratory results, imaging, discharge letters and referrals. Private providers may allow direct access, but private treatment does not automatically create a right to public reimbursement. Formal public access mainly depends on FZO-insured status, the chosen doctor and applicable referral rules; the position of visitors, migrants, uninsured people and cross-border patients depends on current law, agreements and the provider. A prescription from a chosen doctor or specialist does not guarantee immediate availability or public coverage. FZO basic and supplementary medicine lists and current dispensing rules determine coverage. CALIMS, the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices, maintains the authorised human-medicines register. Montefarm is the public pharmacy network and can be relevant for dispensing and stock checks. Where a current shortage or refund procedure applies, the evidence may include the prescription, medical proof, fiscal receipt and confirmation that the provider or pharmacy could not supply the medicine. A pharmacist or clinician should confirm any substitution or dose change. Mental-health care is available through primary Mental Health Centres and the specialist and hospital network. Routine access commonly begins with an izabrani doktor or Dom zdravlja, while KCCG Psychiatry Clinic and the specialised psychiatric hospital in Dobrota provide higher-level services. Confidentiality and consent apply. A crisis involving suicidality, psychosis or severe intoxication requires 124, 112 or emergency assessment. Do not stop or change psychiatric medicine solely on the basis of self-assessment. For chronic illness, older age or disability, the chosen doctor can coordinate monitoring, prescriptions, referrals, home treatment, home nursing, medical aids and rehabilitation. A rehabilitation referral remains subject to current FZO rules, medical indications, contracted providers and local access conditions. Continuity, specialist availability, diagnostic equipment, appointment queues, emergency geography and pharmacy stock vary across municipalities. Examples of public facilities include general hospitals in Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Cetinje, Kotor, Nikšić and Pljevlja, and specialised hospitals in Brezovik, Risan and Dobrota; departments, catchment areas and contacts should be verified before attendance. After treatment, request a discharge summary, medication reconciliation, warning signs, the next appointment or referral, and any rehabilitation or home-care plan. Ask for copies of reports and results. The chosen doctor should maintain the medical documentation even when treatment took place elsewhere. If instructions are incomplete, contact the treating institution or primary doctor promptly. Patients have rights to information, consent, privacy, confidentiality, access to medical documentation, equal treatment and complaint procedures. They should provide truthful medical, medicine and allergy information, attend or cancel appointments, respect facility rules and pay for services that are not covered. The emergency priority system does not remove consent and privacy protections except where the law allows urgent exceptions. The Ministry's IZIS architecture is intended to connect electronic health data such as prescriptions, laboratory results, appointments and shared public and private records, but its implementation and service availability must be verified rather than assumed. Fees, co-payments, reimbursement, waiting times and funding for treatment abroad depend on current insurance and cost rules. Health-care decisions should therefore be checked with the relevant FZO office, Dom zdravlja, hospital, pharmacy or emergency service for the municipality and service concerned.