New ambulances for emergency medical units in Podgorica, Kotor and Ulcinj

The Emergency Medical Service of Montenegro has received three new ambulances fully equipped with medical equipment, provided through the IPA RACE 2 project.

The vehicles, worth €180,774, will be allocated to Emergency Medical Service units in Podgorica, Kotor and Ulcinj.

The IPA RACE 2 project, with a total value of €648,240.98, is being implemented under the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro, with financial support from the European Union.

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The European Union's commitment to investing in Montenegro's healthcare system was highlighted by the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Riccardo Serri.

"In emergency medicine, every second matters because every second can mean the difference between life and death. These new ambulances, together with better-trained staff and improved coordination, will help emergency medical services respond more quickly to emergencies and save more lives. When we think of European Union support, we usually think of major projects such as motorways and railways. However, it is important not to overlook the many smaller projects through which the European Union also supports Montenegro. As in today's case, these projects save lives and, in every instance, improve the quality of life of citizens. I sincerely hope that none of us will ever need one of these ambulances, but if that day does come, you can be confident that you will receive fast and high-quality emergency medical care," said Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Riccardo Serri.

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Minister of Health Vojislav Šimun stressed that this represents another important step towards aligning Montenegro's healthcare system with EU standards.

"One of the first steps taken by this administration was Montenegro's participation in the EU4Health programme, which enables us to access EU funding and projects even though we are not yet an EU Member State. Since then, we have already implemented several successful projects and received direct grants under the programme. Today we are witnessing the successful completion of another project, IPA RACE 2, with a total value of around €650,000, which has provided significant support to emergency medical services. We have received three ambulances, which will be assigned to the units in Podgorica, Kotor and Ulcinj, significantly strengthening their operations and improving the quality of emergency medical services in these municipalities. I would also like to emphasise that, in addition to these three ambulances, the project has provided telemedicine equipment for use on site. Furthermore, we have received equipment for implementing the Norwegian Index for dispatching home visits, defibrillators and numerous other resources that will significantly modernise emergency medical services in Montenegro and, among other things, raise the quality of healthcare provided to our citizens," said Šimun.

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Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević noted that this is just one example of the support the European Union provides to Montenegro and that this cooperation will be further intensified in the coming period.

"This is a clear demonstration of support, not only in terms of the negotiating chapters and meeting the obligations on Montenegro's European path, but also through the financial assistance the European Union provides to our country. The benefits are already visible in delivering healthcare services, investing in medical equipment, and, ultimately, strengthening and investing in our healthcare system. Looking ahead, a large number of projects will be implemented through both cross-border cooperation and IPA programmes so that our citizens can experience the benefits of European Union membership even before full accession. We will continue investing not only in healthcare but also in our schools, education and every other sector that is particularly important during this pre-accession period. Montenegro is progressing steadily and decisively along its European path, and I am confident that we will continue securing increasing levels of EU funding so that our citizens can benefit even more," said Gorčević.

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Director of the Emergency Medical Service of Montenegro, Vuk Niković, highlighted the significant benefits that the completion of the IPA RACE 2 project brings, alongside the delivery of the three new ambulances.

"Over the past five years, the Emergency Medical Service has secured more than €1.1 million through European projects. This is the third European project to be completed successfully. In addition to procuring three ambulances, we have acquired both hardware and software for telemedicine, introduced the Montenegrin home-visit dispatch protocol, and networked all medical devices across the programme area. Using our own resources, we will extend this system across the entire territory of Montenegro. For the first time in our history, in addition to recording calls to the 124 emergency number, we will have a standardised home-visit dispatch protocol covering every municipality, nationwide telemedicine services, and all medical equipment interconnected. This is extremely important for Montenegro because we are engaged in accession negotiations with the European Union, and all European projects contribute to raising standards and improving emergency medical care. As we move closer to EU membership and continue to develop as a tourist destination, it is essential that both our human and technical resources meet European Union standards. Work is already under way on a fourth project, and I hope that, with the construction of a new Emergency Medical Service building in Podgorica, we will establish a fully modern emergency medical system and become an effective partner within the European Union in the future," said Niković.

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As part of the IPA RACE 2 project, training in basic and advanced life support was also delivered to medical staff of the Emergency Medical Service, as well as members of the Police Directorate, the Protection and Rescue Service, the Armed Forces of Montenegro and the Ministry of the Interior, further strengthening the capacities of the first responders in emergency situations.

Source: EU4ME; vijesti.me

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