Montenegrin Health Minister for Better Servies for Trans Individuals

Deputy Minister of Health’s Primarius Dr Mensud Grbovic hosted today at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health, in the presence of LGBT Forum Progress, the first two transgender people who will access the adjustment of their sex to their gender.

 

The reception took place so that the transgender persons would become directly acquainted with the functioning of the health system and the leading accent during the interview, was placed on building and maintaining trust of the transgender people in the health system and the protection of privacy, dignity and rights of all users of health services.

 

A system of communication and reception of the transgender people in health institutions has been agreed upon, so the access would be facilitated and accelerated and   made with the maximum of confidentiality. Contact person responsible for further communication with transgender people will be designated by the Department of Health and public health system. It was agreed to intensify work on the development of secondary legislation in order to further affirm the rights and treatment of the transgender people.

 

Deputy Minister of Health, given the experience and still underdeveloped domestic capacities of Health system supported the advocacy LGBT Forum Progress that, when necessary, the entire process of gender confirmation from psychiatric treatment through hormone therapy and surgical intervention of the change of sex, takes place in the regional health centers, primarily Belgrade, which is a world recognized address in this area.

 

Grbović is the first government official who officially met with the transgender persons who decided to start the gender confirmation and which are active in the national LGBT community. Before him, in October last year, Dr. Miodrag Radunovic, for the first time in the history of Montenegro of Health system, met with Zdravko Cimbaljevic, publicly declared LGBT activist. On the first, historic reception a mutual cooperation was agreed  and also the proposed changes to regulations that will allow better access  of the transgender people in the local health system.

 

 A positive fact, today announced for the first time at the meeting, is that, from 2013. New codebook of the sexes will become effective which will provide additional choice regarding sexes. The new codes will make sexual declaration more free for those who does not fit the traditional concept of male or female, those who are sexually undecided and those who are in the process of gender confirmation.

 

Admission is a continuation of the dialogue between LGBT Forum Progress leads and the  health authorities in Montenegro with the purpose of preventing discrimination and improving access, care and treatment of citizens regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. 

 

Five-member delegation of the LGBT Forum Progress, which among others consisted of two trans persons, who intend to start a gender confirmation today  met  with Marijana Lakovic, Deputy Ombudsman for Human Rights and freedoms. She learned about the previous experiences and challenges of the transgender people and welcomed the progress that Montenegro achieved thanks to the quality communication of governmental institutions and civil society. She  also announced a strong commitment to of the institution of Ombudsman for further  acceptance and integration of LGBT people.

 

Contact:  
LGBT Forum Progres 

E-mail: info@lgbtprogres.me

Web: www.lgbtprogres.me