The Institute for Emergency Medical Assistance has formally requested urban planning and technical conditions from the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property for the construction of a new facility.
The proposed site is adjacent to the existing Emergency Medical Service building and offers a view of the Military Medical Center.
“This plot is located behind the glass building, which was originally planned for the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts and is state-owned. The area is designated for state-significant projects and medical facilities, with plans for two buildings that include parking spaces. Consequently, I have reached out to the ministry for the necessary technical conditions so we can move forward with our request to the Directorate for Capital Projects. We have earmarked between €100,000 and €150,000 for a feasibility study and the conceptual design of the new building. We cannot initiate the study or design until we receive these technical conditions. Once we have that, we will approach the ministry and the government to secure approval for allocating this space for our project,” stated Vuk Niković, director of the Emergency Medical Service.
Currently, the service operates from two separate locations: the administrative offices are situated beneath the stadium, while medical services are provided in the Health Fund building.
“In the new facility, I plan to integrate the medical and administrative sections, the national dispatch center, and the national education center. It will be either a two or three-story building with an underground parking level. My vision includes the capability to relocate the entire emergency service two floors underground in case of an emergency,” Niković explained.
Niković intends to use the institute’s own funds to develop the conceptual design.
“I will work towards accessing European funds or securing budget allocations for construction in 2026. However, that timeline feels distant, so we are making efforts to finalize this through EU funding. When I took over as director in 2021, I made a rough estimate for the new building’s cost, including all medical equipment, projecting it would be between four and five million euros. The recent renovation of the Podgorica emergency service cost around €80,000, with €54,700 coming from donations and approximately €20,000 from our own resources. This indicates that we do not need substantial funds if we follow the correct procedures. I have structured the institute to generate its own income, which I plan to use for the project and to issue tenders for the architect who will create the design based on our specifications.”
Niković also highlighted that during the renovation, they ensured the building could eventually accommodate office space for the Health Fund.
“We have created separate rooms for drivers, technicians, and doctors connected by corridors, along with two ambulances. If the medical flooring does not meet requirements, they can replace it with tiles or laminate. We’ve ensured that when these rooms are handed over to the Fund, they will be fully functional and ready for use,” he added.
