Overview:

PSF Canada collaborated on this mission with Pharmaciens Sans Frontières Comité International (PSFCI) and this mission took place from October 2000 to April 2001. The mission was based in the capital Podogrica. Montenegro was a region which largely avoided the larger scale bombardments it’s neighbors faced during the war, but the influx of refugees from the neighboring territories (Bosnia and Kosovo) the healthcare system was in extreme duress. The country suffered from inertia of the health system for 10 years and there was no association or order to represent pharmacists in Montenegro.

Objectives:

1. Provide and distribute drugs and products to state structures (particularly to avoid accumulation as was seen during the War period) such as hospitals and publicly funded pharmacies.

2. Implement Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP), a set of standards set out by WHO to ensure basic pharmaceutical services within a good quality

3. Form an association, or group, to represent the interests of pharmacists

Team Members:

• Simon Caron

Collaboration:

• European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO)

• World Health Organization (WHO)

• Pharmaciens Sans Frontières Comité International (PSFCI)

Testimonials:

“My role gave me the chance to see the province a few times. Magnificent Balkan region, where on weekends, with the stability that prevailed there, we organized skiing in the Durmitor or the beach in Budva. Despite the war, people warmly received us. Despite my young age at the time, my decisions were respected. A multicultural experience. There were many NGOs and I have met people from all over the world. We were a working team consisting of Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims without any religious friction.“ - Simon Carron

Outcomes:

1. Completion of program funded by ECHO resulted in 5 months of drug supplies and training to pharmacists and pharmacy staff

   • Based in Podogrica, PSFCI provided drugs and missing products to more than 50 state structures (community pharmacists and hospitals)

   • Destruction of drugs improperly stored (due to accumulation)

2. Chamber of Pharmacists of Montenegro was recreated, which gave way to a return of the Pharmacists Association

   • Production of information pamphlets for pharmacists to provide to the public

   • Delivered a seminar to locally trained pharmacists about GPPs

3. Provided training for government agencies and hospitals in regards to stock management, procurement and distribution