The Montenegrin government’s allocation of €487.12 million for the Health Insurance Fund (FZO) has sparked a debate regarding its sufficiency for the upcoming year. While the FZO asserts that this year’s budget reflects a rational distribution and poses no risks to insured citizens, former FZO director Sead Čirgić warns of a potential shortfall of up to €50 million.
This year’s budget represents an increase of 7.62 percent, or €34.49 million, compared to the previous year’s budget. The FZO has designated €197 million for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, with €25 million allocated to private pharmacies and €172 million to the public entity Montefarm. The FZO reports a projected budget increase of approximately 20.23 percent compared to last year, aligning with the rising costs of healthcare.
Despite these assurances, factors such as annual increases in healthcare spending, estimated at around 10 percent, could impact overall expenditures. Čirgić has raised concerns about the underestimation of the proposed budget, suggesting it may not adequately account for the actual consumption levels anticipated in 2025.
He stated, “I believe that the effects of the ES 1 and 2 programs on generated consumption will diminish. It’s likely that the annual growth rate of healthcare spending will fall below 10 percent, but not below 7 percent. This indicates that the shortfall in funding could range from €35 million to €50 million.”
In light of recent government approvals for an additional €30 million to secure medicines and medical supplies by year-end, the FZO maintains that the budget for 2026 has been thoroughly planned. They have reassured the public that any deviations in budget positions will be adjusted by the end of the fiscal year to ensure comprehensive healthcare access for insured citizens.
The FZO emphasizes ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, which aims to enhance strategies and planning to improve the status of insured individuals while addressing existing systemic anomalies.
Looking ahead, Čirgić suggests that healthcare will remain a high priority for the government in the coming year due to increasing patient dissatisfaction. He cautioned, “Given that I do not foresee any substantial reforms in the system, the situation for patients will not improve compared to previous years. We will continue to experience long waiting times and the shifting of healthcare costs onto patients.”
On the topic of potential shortages of medicines, he expressed optimism that proactive measures would mitigate any significant disruptions. He highlighted the importance of anticipating issues in a pre-election year, noting, “To ensure financial stability, the state plans to allow borrowing of an astonishing €3.1 billion under the 2026 budget law. This is an unprecedented example globally, allowing borrowing that exceeds projected revenues for the next year.”
The projected revenues for 2026 are estimated at €3.08 billion, raising concerns about the sustainability of such fiscal strategies. Čirgić remarked, “Then we will plan even ‘more’ borrowing in the 2027 budget law, in addition to this.”
As the government navigates these financial challenges, the FZO remains committed to ensuring that healthcare remains accessible and reliable for all insured individuals, despite the complexities of budgetary planning.
