The Directorate for Capital Projects and the companies STRABAG AG and STRABAG DOO Podgorica signed a contract for the construction of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and the Clinic for Dermato-venerology at the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, which will be financed by the European Union. The new building, which will house two clinics, will consist of a lower level, a ground floor, and two upper floors, with a total area of ​​over 5,500 square meters. The construction will cost close to €8.5 million and should be completed in 18 months.

The Director of the Directorate for Capital Projects Esmin Bećović, the technical Director of the STRABAG company Vojin Zajić, the Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa, and the Minister of Health Dragoslav Šćekić attended the signing of the contract.

"The signing of this contract is an immeasurable thing for the healthcare system. After four decades we are starting to build a serious project, and for us, this is a significant day that motivates us to work much harder and more responsibly in the future in order to create a quality healthcare service and healthcare for our citizens’ protection," emphasised Minister Šćekić.

Ambassador Popa emphasised how glad she is that medical workers will soon work in excellent new facilities, with access to state-of-the-art equipment.

“These two new clinics represent a vital investment in the Montenegrin public health system. Montenegro has received €130 million in EU grants and in financing, directly helping to protect the health of frontline medical workers, improve public health, and save thousands of jobs. I am always happy to see EU money invested in projects that make a tangible and immediate difference in people’s lives. In this context, I can’t think of a better way of spending EU funds than building new clinics to protect and preserve people’s health,” Popa says.

European assistance to the Montenegrin health system does not stop there. We are in the process of refurbishing and providing equipment for microbiological laboratories, worth over €2.5 million. With the EU’s financial assistance, Montenegro is establishing a Centre for Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases with an Operational Centre for Emergency Situations, worth approximately €3 million.