The Ministry of Science donates a diagnostic device for head and neck malignant tumours to the Clinical Centre of Montenegro

The Ministry of Science donated to the Clinical Centre of Montenegro a flexible endoscope for the upper respiratory tract, a very important and valuable device, which will enable better and faster diagnosis of malignant head and neck tumours.

- I am very happy that by donating this device to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic of the Clinical Centre of Montenegro we have contributed to the integration of modern technological solutions into medical practices. The device is very important in the diagnosis of head and neck tumours, so it will make a significant contribution to the fight against cancer. We know that cancer is one of the biggest social challenges today and the second leading cause of death, so I hope that the new equipment we donated to the Clinical Centre will improve care for the health of citizens, while contributing to research work of the Centre, Minister Damjanović said.

Minister Damjanović reminded that the Ministry of Science supported research and excellence in research through numerous programmes and instruments.

- What I would especially like to emphasize is that the teams of researchers of medical institutions, including the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, are among the most active research teams, which was confirmed by this year’s call for applications, announced amidst the pandemic. In the past two and a half years alone, we financed medical projects with EUR 2.4 million, which included digitalisation projects in the healthcare system. Among the holders of these projects were the Clinical Centre, as well as the Institute of Public Health, the Faculty of Medicine, and recently the Dr. Simo Milošević Institute. The period behind us, in which our health system proved to be up to the task, made all citizens understand the importance of expertise and ability of our health workers, and I sincerely congratulate them on that, Minister Damjanović said.

As Minister Damjanović pointed out, the European Union identified the fight against cancer as one of its priorities under the next framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe.

- The same health challenge – the fight against cancer – is also targeted by the SEEIIST project, initiated by the Government of Montenegro for the region of South-East Europe, as it will enable the most modern treatment method to be applied, thus bringing an added value to the entire continent.

However, the support of clinical centres in the region of South-East Europe is crucial for the implementation of this large-scale project. The SEEIIST and similar projects demonstrate that international cooperation in science can support the fight against all the challenges of our time, the minister concluded.

Thanking Minister Damjanović for the continuous support provided by the Ministry of Science to the Clinical Centre, the institution’s Director Dr. Jevto Eraković reminded that there were a large number of projects relating to the purchase of equipment, education, and professional development of physicians from the Clinical Centre that were implemented together with the Ministry of Science.

- This is yet another donation that will significantly improve the work and working conditions and diagnostics, primarily with regard to patients at the ENT Clinic of the Clinical Centre of Montenegro. At the same time, we are also looking forward to the implementation of numerous projects with the Ministry of Science, the most important of which is currently the procurement of a scanner for the Children’s Hospital.

Let me remind you that the implementation of that project was significantly supported by the Ministry of Science, together with the International Atomic Energy Agency. On the other hand, we are making our own contribution to the implementation of projects that are predominantly implemented by the Ministry of Science. Among all these projects, I think that both the Clinical Centre and the state of Montenegro must give absolute priority to the SEEIIST project, and as far as the Clinical Centre is concerned, I am sure that we will do so, Dr. Eraković said.

Director of the ENT Clinic of the Clinical Centre of Montenegro Dr. Elvir Zvrko stressed that malignant tumours were one of the big challenges to which science needed to respond.

- This device, which is a donation from the Ministry of Science, a flexible endoscope for the upper respiratory tract, will enable us to have a better and faster diagnosis of malignant head and neck tumours. We estimate that in Montenegro there are annually about 130 to 150 new patients with different types of head and neck tumours, which may not be sufficiently known to the general public, but which is a significant problem because of the impairment of quality of life, breathing, speech, swallowing and so on. For this reason, rapid diagnosis is important as it allows us to recognise tumours early.

This device will also enable us to perform tumour biopsy and to avoid general anaesthesia in a certain number of patients, so in any case the diagnosis and the treatment will be more efficient, Dr. Zvrko explained, thanking the Ministry for the valuable donation.

Video: The Ministry of Science donates a diagnostic device for head and neck malignant tumours to the Clinical Centre of Montenegro