Integrity Assessment of the Health Care System in Montenegro
Montenegro Health Care System Costs The public share of total health expenses amounted to 74.8% in 2006. The private share of total health expenses increased in the period 2004-2006 from 23.6% to 25.2%. The costs for medical resources (non-hospital) are high (24% of total health expenses) and one extremely large portion of it (62%) is financed by household cash payments. An international comparison shows that the share of private costs that make up one quarter of total health sector expenses is almost equal to the European Union average, but it is slightly lower than in some countries in the region.
Integrity Assessment of the Health Care System in Montenegro
3. SUMMARY OF RESULTS – PATIENTS OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE 3.1. Demographic characteristics The survey was conducted in 17 municipalities where Health Centres were located, on a sample of 1,159 patients who used primary health care during 2010. Out of the total sample, 44.6% of respondents live in the central region, 35.9% in the southern and 19.5% in the northern region. Table 2. Municipalities where the survey took place
With 2.9% (2005) and 2.4% (2006) of household consumption going on cash payments for health care services, Montenegro is also close to the average of the OECD – Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (3%). According to the available data, it is estimated that about 60% (59.4% in 2006) of private expenses for the health care sector were for retail trade and other medical supply providers, 30.5% on outpatient service providers, with less than 10% going to hospitals (contributions to the social insurance fund are included). Different methods of health care financing (formal and informal payments) may affect the level and distribution of costs for the health care sector and public access to health care services.
Municipality
Number of respondents
%
Podgorica
333
28.7
Herceg Novi
138
11.9
Nikšić
80
6.9
Bar
77
6.6
Budva
73
6.3
Ulcinj
66
5.7
Danilovgrad
62
5.3
Berane
47
4.1
Cetinje
42
3.6
Pljevlja
41
3.5
Kotor
40
3.5
Plav
38
3.3
Rožaje
30
2.6
Mojkovac
26
2.2
Bijelo Polje
24
2.1
Tivat
22
1.9
Kolašin
20
1.7
1,159
100.0
Total
The gender breakdown was almost equal: 52.7% of women and 47.3% of men. The average age was 43, while most people interviewed were 56 years of age (24.5%) and between 26 and 35 years of age (22.0%). Regarding their educational status, a half of respondents (56.8%) had secondary level of education.
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