LocationsResults of Anti-Corruption Measures in the Health Sector Presented
December 5, 2025
Podgorica, 5 December 2025 — Integrity is the foundation of an effective public administration, and preventing corruption in the health sector must be a national priority, it was emphasized at an event organized by the Agency for Prevention of Corruption (APC) in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The event featured the presentation of the Assessment Report on the Implementation of Anti-Corruption Measures in the Health Sector, prepared by the APC with UNDP support. The report provides an overview of the state of integrity, identifies key challenges, and highlights areas for improvement.
Among the 30 healthcare institutions that participated in the assessment, the best-performing were the Primary Healthcare Centres in Berane and Bijelo Polje. Andrijevica Primary Healthcare Centre ranked third, followed by the Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices of Montenegro in fourth place, and the Clinical Centre of Montenegro in fifth. The overall performance score for the implementation of anti-corruption measures across all health institutions was 47.85%, underscoring the need for a systemic approach to strengthening institutional capacities.
The report shows that internal audit systems are insufficiently developed, risks affecting vulnerable social groups are not adequately recognized, and most institutions lack fully regulated internal employment procedures. The results indicate that institutions are largely compliant with the obligations set out in the Law on Prevention of Corruption.
Based on the findings, the APC issued 717 recommendations to improve integrity within health institutions. Seventeen institutions have already implemented 53 measures, demonstrating that this methodological assessment is producing tangible results.
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova, stated that the assessment results offer valuable insights into the functioning of one of the key public service sectors. “Analyses of this kind help us identify challenges, understand systemic risks, and—most importantly—work together on solutions. Building strong integrity infrastructure requires continuous commitment, cooperation, and an open dialogue,” Paniklova stressed, adding that UNDP remains a reliable partner in strengthening public sector integrity.
Pavle Ćupić, Chair of the APC Council, noted that public opinion surveys conducted by the APC consistently show that citizens perceive the health sector as particularly vulnerable to corruption, and that combating corruption in healthcare is an integral part of both national and global anti-corruption priorities.
“Expertise from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea, combined with UNDP support, enabled us to develop an innovative methodology for assessing the implementation of anti-corruption measures. This approach is transforming how the Agency measures risks, as well as how institutions think about integrity. Fighting corruption is not just about enforcing laws—it is about changing mindsets and building a system where accountability is the rule, not the exception,” Ćupić emphasized.
Lee Myeoung-Sun, Vice President of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea, reminded participants that Montenegro has been developing its own methodology based on the Korean model since 2021: “This model is internationally recognized as a good practice because it offers a systematic way to identify weaknesses, measure risks, and promote integrity in the public sector. Montenegro has already successfully applied this approach in various areas of the public sector, which is a significant achievement.”
Anne Juepner, Director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, highlighted that Montenegro’s experience has inspired other countries, including Sri Lanka, which has launched similar initiatives through UNDP programmes. This further confirms the importance of international cooperation and knowledge exchange in strengthening the integrity of public institutions.
Between 2021 and 2025, the Agency assessed the implementation of anti-corruption measures in five out of ten public sectors. It will present the consolidated results in December at the global conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption.
The event was organized within the project “Zero Tolerance for Corruption: Strengthening Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability in Public Administration in Montenegro”, implemented by UNDP with the support of the global initiative of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre and the Government of the Republic of Korea.
