Members of the public — patients — have repeatedly contacted the Medical Chamber of Montenegro by telephone to express dissatisfaction with a situation they frequently encounter in practice. They point out that, after waiting for several hours, particularly at the Emergency Centre of the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, patients who have received emergency medical care are nevertheless referred to their chosen primary care doctor to obtain prescriptions for their treatment. They are then obliged to queue again to obtain prescriptions for treatment that has already been indicated. In this way, patients who have received urgent medical assistance because of the seriousness of their condition are subjected to additional strain and hours of waiting at their primary care doctor's practice. This may worsen their health and is entirely contrary to the purpose of emergency medical care.

Doctors working in secondary and tertiary healthcare have also raised this issue, stressing that they have been completely denied the ability to issue prescriptions, even though they are the ones who establish the diagnosis and determine the treatment. This regulatory and organisational arrangement is difficult to understand, as it serves neither the efficiency of the healthcare system nor patients' interests. On the contrary, it creates unnecessary administrative burdens and causes patients to spend additional time in healthcare facilities. In this way, primary care doctors are relieved of administrative work and enabled to make their full contribution to the day-to-day treatment of patients.

We draw particular attention to the growing number of households consisting of older people in contemporary Montenegrin society. As a result, older patients often have nobody who can go in their place or help them during hours of waiting outside their primary care doctor's consulting room, making it even harder for them to exercise their right to healthcare.

It is unacceptable that patients are prevented from purchasing prescribed medication at a pharmacy on the basis of a specialist doctor's report, regardless of whether it was issued by a public or private healthcare institution. This restriction is particularly problematic for tourists and others who are not part of Montenegro's regular healthcare system but need appropriate treatment during their stay. It not only hinders timely access to necessary medicines but also creates an unnecessary obstacle for foreign visitors, which may negatively affect their sense of safety and the quality of their stay in Montenegro.

Indirectly, this practice also harms Montenegro's economy, particularly the tourism sector, because accessible and functional healthcare is one of the elements that determine the overall quality and safety of a tourist destination.

We also wish to highlight a particular paradox faced by doctors from Montenegro: when abroad, they can obtain medicines from pharmacies on the basis of their medical identification card, while in Montenegro they are denied that right. We consider this practice unacceptable and believe that it requires urgent review and an appropriate regulatory solution.

In view of all the above, we ask you to urgently consider the issues raised and take appropriate measures to improve the prescribing system, protect patients' rights, and safeguard doctors' standing and professional integrity.