EU support for better healthcare in Pljevlja

Pljevlja General Hospital will lead a cross-border cooperation project worth over €328,000, through which the healthcare facility will acquire a modern digital mammography system with tomosynthesis.

The project will be jointly implemented by Pljevlja General Hospital and the Kraljevo Health Center, with financial support from the European Union under the IPA III Serbia–Montenegro Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021–2027.

Saša Grbović, Director of the Pljevlja General Hospital, stated that the contract for the project "Integrated Health Services in a Cross-Border Context for Marginalized Communities in Pljevlja and Kraljevo" was signed on September 1 in Belgrade.

Of the total project value, which exceeds €328,000, the European Union will provide nearly €279,000. Pljevlja General Hospital is the lead grant beneficiary, while the Kraljevo Health Center is the project partner.

"For the Pljevlja hospital, the most significant investment will be the procurement of a digital mammography system with tomosynthesis. The new equipment is expected to enhance early breast cancer detection capabilities and enable higher-quality diagnostics for female patients from the Pljevlja and Žabljak areas. This investment is particularly important given the need for more accessible healthcare for the population of the northern region, where the distance to major medical centers often poses an additional barrier to timely diagnosis and treatment," said Grbović.

However, the project will not focus solely on the procurement of medical equipment. "Plans also include enhancing the professional capacities of healthcare institutions through joint training for healthcare workers, a study visit, and the exchange of experiences between partners from Montenegro and Serbia," said Grbović.

Activities aimed at the general public will also be organized, with a special focus on those facing barriers to accessing healthcare services. These include the elderly, women, residents of rural areas, and members of other vulnerable groups.

It is expected that at least 500 citizens will directly benefit from the improved healthcare services during the project's implementation.