The main conclusions of the guests on the TV show “Debata” on TV Vijesti were that the procurement procedures for medical equipment and medicines are overly complex and that there are evident problems in procurement for the healthcare sector, which is why the procedures need to be simplified.
The show was conducted as part of the project “Procurement under spotlight – Making Watchdogs Work!”, which we are implementing with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Serbia and Montenegro. The goal of the show was to discuss the issues in public procurement within this sector and to help the public understand the causes of, among other things, the lack of medicines in pharmacies and long waiting lists for certain healthcare services.
Amra Pepić, Director General of the Directorate for IPA and Other Projects at the Ministry of Health, stated that certain factors are slowing down the public procurement process and that the current Law on Public Procurement does not set limits or topics for appeals that companies can submit regarding announced tenders. When it comes to capital projects, Pepić noted that the Ministry has observed deficiencies in the project tasks, which later become more apparent during the execution phase.
Dragica Pejanović, representative of the Public Procurement Sector of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, mentioned that the procedures would be much faster if the administrative requirements for the bidders were reduced—specifically if all tender documentation could be checked within the system. Nisera Mekić, Head of the Public Procurement Service at the Clinical Center of Montenegro, agreed, adding that the quickest a tender can be completed is within 60 days. However, she pointed out that numerous appeals, often unfounded and subsequently rejected, prolong the process.
Two MRI machines still pending
Pepić mentioned that tenders for the procurement of two MRI machines have been ongoing since December 2022, but that no patient has waited longer than 45 days for an MRI scan.
“Even countries like Austria and Slovenia face challenges when it comes to equipment procurement. The Law on Public Procurement does not limit appeals or their subjects. At the Ministry of Health, we are conducting an analysis of the reception and provision of healthcare services, and we are even considering creating a lex specialis regarding the procurement of medical equipment.”
Commenting on these points, Mekić emphasised that two years ago, a process was initiated to procure a scanner and an angiograph. While the scanner has been delivered, the angiograph is still “on hold” due to an ongoing appeal process, the fourth in a row, which has already lasted 23 months.
“This year, we lost a significant neuromonitoring device that would have introduced new procedures because of an appeal related to documentation of a technical nature, involving the Revenue and Customs Administration. Montenegro is a small market, and such equipment was rarely procured until the last few years. Bidders often compete for their share, to the detriment of us and the patients, knowing that this equipment will be purchased now and not again for the next 10-15 years,” concluded Mekić.
Simple procurements used as emergency purchases
Mirjana Bošković, advisor to the Director of Montefarm, noted that since they handle centralised procurement for all healthcare institutions in Montenegro, they strive to monitor the consumption of medicines. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of medicines to be procured has increased, and it is necessary to obtain quality medicines at appropriate prices.
“Simple procurements serve as a form of emergency procurement where we resort to these methods in exceptional situations. The goal is to adapt the Law on Public Procurement —specifically for the procurement of medicines and medical supplies—to simplify and speed up the process,” Bošković concluded.
The guests agreed that it is necessary to reduce bureaucratic burdens and conditions that are essentially irrelevant, noting that if one tender fails, it affects all of us.
“The Ministry of Health’s solution is to change the legislative framework; we have entered the process of evaluating the system, but we also see certain improvements in public procurement procedures,” concluded Pepić.
You can watch the entire show at the following link.
This TV show was produced within the Project “Procurement under spotlight – Making Watchdogs Work!”, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Serbia and Montenegro within the MATRA Rule of Law program. Project aims to empower and motivate watchdogs to combat corruption and undue influence in public procurement.
