Background: In the days of the reorganization of healthcare systems due to SARS-Cov2 pandemic, patients suffering from chronic diseases are being often neglected. The aim of our study was to examine the attitudes and behaviors of patient suffering from relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis using disease-modifying drugs in Montenegro in relation to the current pandemic. Methods: The research was conducted through an online-generated questionnaire during the peak of the pandemic.Results: There is a high level of concern about COVID-19 (3.22 ± 1.23), especially about safety behavior intensification (3.80 ± 1.29). Possibility of relapse during pandemic was considered as moderate (2.06 ± 1.42), but relapse symptoms would be reported by the majority of subjects (1.55 ± 1.23). Our unemployed patients statistically more often reported that they had more frequent mood changes, but also that they felt more energy loss. Surprisingly, there was no difference among the subjects according to smoking status. According therapy groups there was significant difference between the groups regarding some variables: patients using ocrelizumab are most concerned about COVID-19; patients using interferon beta 1a i.m. statistically more often have frequent changes in their mood, memory problems, poor appetite, feeling of nausea or upset stomach and patients on fingolimod have bigger afraid of coming to regular visits. Conclusion: Our patients showed concern about their disease future status in the current epidemic era, but also showed a high degree of trust in physicians and the overall health system.

Background/Aim. The main objective of the health system is to preserve and improve the general level of health of the population. Every country is making considerable efforts to ensure a sustainable healthcare financing system that would enable the qualitative realization of basic social security rights, rights to healthcare. The aim of the study was to determine the difference between the health system and the concepts of financing through the critical analysis of the system/model and indicators of financing health care in the Western Balkan countries. Methods. An overview of the current state of the health care system in the Western Balkan countries was based on data collected from sources such as the World Bank, World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reports, health ministries, finance ministries and statistical institutes of all countries in the analysis. Following the classification of the data, some categories were created to identify differences and similarities between the funding methods used in the Western Balkan countries. The analysis was performed by measuring the effect of healthcare funding on variables by measuring performance. Because it is impossible to measure the relationship between variables in a single regression analysis model, several regression functions were used for accurately determining the relationship results. Results. The two indicators: a total expenditure on health services and institutions as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP), and health expenditure per capita shows weak positive correlation (p = 0.3) indicating that a higher amount of GDP per capita does not have a positive impact on the percentage of health expenditure in the Western Balkan countries observed. Despite differences in expenditures, all countries had a relatively similar funding method with different regulation that has impact on effectiveness of health system and resources used. Conclusion. The health sector in the Western Balkans is characterized by a lack of adequate administrative resources, legislation and regulations, as well as significant constraints in securing the necessary budget. Considering the resources devoted to the health sector in the Balkan countries, it can be said that the authorities in these countries do not see the health system as an important pillar of the country''s development, as they do not devote sufficient financial resources to ensure the functioning of the health system.

The COVID-19 epidemic has brought a number of changes to health systems, including the provision of health services to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Work in the Clinic for Neurology of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (CN-CCM) with MS patients continued as much as possible during the epidemic. The administration of the already started disease-modifying therapy (DMT) continued, and the introduction of the new one was postponed until the moment when the epidemic started to slow down. During the epidemic period, plasmapheresis treatment was performed in CN-CCM without any complications. New ways of communications (special e-mail address and phone line) with MS patients during epidemic were realized. During epidemic, smaller number of relapses were reported compared to same period in 2019. There were not MS patients in Montenegro suffering from SARS-Cov2 virus infection.

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Health and health systems are not excluded from the influence of digitalization. In Montenegro, regarding the digitization process, when compared to other sectors, the health sector is lagging. In this poster presentation, we present an ambitious Erasmus+ DigN€ST project aimed on modernization of digitalization of healthcare system in Montenegro, as one of priority fields at national level.