A multi-million grant was signed for the reconstruction of three health institutions

KCCG, OB CT and OB BP in the energy efficiency project.

Today, the Minister of Health, Dr. Vojislav Šimun, signed the Agreement on the allocation of grants in the amount of €2,000,000 with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), for the reconstruction of the Clinical Center of Montenegro, the Bijelo Polje General Hospital and the Cetinje General Hospital, in in order to improve the energy efficiency of these facilities.
For the needs of the Ministry of Health, the EBRD prepared a feasibility study for this project, and additionally allocated €1,000,000 for consulting support in the preparation of the tender, execution and supervision of works.
Let us remind you that on June 28, 2024, the Minister of Finance Novica Vuković signed a loan agreement with the EBRD for the financing of the Public Health Institutions Reconstruction Project. The total investment cost of renovating the hospitals included in the investment program amounts to €12,000,000, with €7,084,533 allocated to the Clinical Center of Montenegro, €1,377,958 to the Cetinje General Hospital and €2,783,802 to the Bijelo Polje General Hospital.
The Minister of Health Dr. Vojislav Šimun said that this is an extremely important project for Montenegrin healthcare, bearing in mind the age of the healthcare infrastructure in Montenegro. He expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the EBRD for the realization of the loan arrangement in the amount of 15 million euros, intended for the financing of this project.
“One of the strategic goals of the ministry that I lead is precisely new capital projects and the renovation of existing health institutions, so in addition to the implementation of the MEEP 1 and 2 programs, we also included this project. I am especially pleased that this project includes the Clinical Center of Montenegro, as the umbrella institution of our healthcare, with an investment of around 7 million euros, but also the General Hospital Danilo Prvi, in Cetinje, as the hospital with the longest tradition in Montenegro, with an estimated value of almost 1.4 million euros and Bijelo Polje General Hospital, for which the remaining funds of over 2.7 million euros have been allocated. Apart from the obvious benefit in the field of energy saving, it is very important to point out that with the reconstruction of these hospitals, we will get improved working conditions for healthcare workers, as well as a more comfortable and safer stay for our patients”, said Minister Šimun.
He emphasized that the fact that the EBRD provided a 3 million euro grant for feasibility studies and cost needs for experts working on this project is a sign of trust and good cooperation of the Ministry of Health with this respected European institution.
“We are pleased to sign this grant agreement within the EU Energy Efficiency Program for the region, which marks the first energy efficiency project in public buildings in Montenegro, supported by the EBRD. It is expected that this project will pave the way for further EBRD investments in public buildings, which will benefit both citizens and the environment. By improving energy efficiency and sustainability, the renovations will improve hospital infrastructure, improve indoor air quality and increase the level of comfort — key factors for health institutions”, said Remon Zakarija, head of the EBRD office for Montenegro.
The head of the cooperation sector in the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Ingve Engstrom, welcomed the investment, which will contribute to the better quality of the health system and the Green Agenda.
“We are looking forward to the continuous and ambitious agenda of Montenegro in the fields of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency in public buildings, foreseen in the EU Reform Agenda for Montenegro, and in accordance with the goals of the EU renovation wave”, said Engstrom.