An insured person is entitled to medicines from the basic and supplementary drug lists, which the Government sets and the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Fund publish. The current list was set by a Government decision of 2 July 2026 (Official Gazette 102/2026) and applies from 24 July 2026. A medicine on the basic list is paid for by the Fund, while for a medicine on the supplementary list the Fund pays up to the price of the matching basic-list medicine and you pay the difference. Listed medicines are prescribed by your chosen doctor, and the regime code next to each medicine shows whether a specialist report, a hospital discharge letter or a medical panel's opinion is needed. If you cannot get a basic-list medicine at a contracted pharmacy or institution, you can buy it and claim a refund of the price you paid.
This guide explains the difference between the basic and supplementary lists, what the codes on the list mean, how you get a medicine on prescription, what to do if the pharmacy does not have it and who is exempt from co-payment.
How do the basic and supplementary lists differ?
- The basic list covers cost-effective medicines for treating illness, which are provided from compulsory health insurance funds.
- The supplementary list covers medicines that are therapeutic alternatives to basic-list medicines. The Fund pays up to the price of the basic-list medicine, and you pay the rest of the full price yourself.
- For each medicine on the supplementary list, the list shows the pack price paid by the Fund and the price paid by the insured person.
- For example, on the July 2026 list, for Singulair 10 mg, 28 tablets, the Fund pays 5.48 euros and the patient 0.71 euros out of 6.19 euros in total.
- The list also shows the ATC code, the international name, the manufacturer, the brand name, strength, pack size, indication code, prescribing regime code and price.
What do the codes on the list mean?
| Code | Meaning |
| R | issued on a prescription from your chosen doctor or chosen dentist, and certain specialists at health centre units |
| RS | prescription from your chosen doctor based on a specialist's report |
| RZ | prescription from your chosen doctor based on the therapy in a hospital discharge letter |
| RK | prescription from your chosen doctor based on the opinion of a medical panel and the Fund's commission |
| Z | used at a primary health centre |
| SZ | used in hospital |
| K | approved by the Ministry of Health's commission |
- An indication code, for example IA01/1, limits the conditions for which, and how long, the medicine is prescribed at the Fund's expense.
- When a medicine carries the code RS, you first need a specialist's report, and only then a prescription from your chosen doctor.
How do you get a medicine on prescription?
- Listed medicines are prescribed by your chosen doctor, or a doctor with the powers of a chosen doctor, on a prescription form.
- You collect the prescription at a pharmacy that has a contract with the Fund.
- If the medicine requires a specialist's report, a discharge letter or a panel's opinion, take that document to your chosen doctor.
- The Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices publishes on its website the medicines issued on prescription.
What if the pharmacy does not have the medicine?
- If a basic-list prescription medicine cannot be obtained from a contracted pharmacy or institution, you can buy it yourself.
- The Fund then refunds the price you paid, based on an invoice issued in line with the law.
- You apply to the Fund's regional unit, usually enclosing the prescription, the medical records and the fiscal receipt.
- The same right applies to medical aids from the list that are prescribed.
Who is exempt from co-payment?
The law provides for a co-payment for medicines dispensed at pharmacies too, and the Government sets its amount. Exempt from co-payment are:
- children, women during pregnancy, childbirth and for a year after childbirth, and insured persons over 65;
- voluntary blood donors who have given blood more than ten times, and organ, tissue and cell donors;
- recipients of social protection benefits, recipients of the lowest pension and war veterans and military and civilian war invalids, with family members, if not insured on another basis;
- blind and deaf-mute persons and persons with autism;
- insured persons for the treatment of certain underlying conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic kidney failure on dialysis, HIV and hepatitis B and C.
The Medicines Act of February 2026 allows pharmacies to sell online only medicines issued without a prescription, and only after notifying the Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices.
Choosing the doctor who prescribes your medicines is covered in our guide to your chosen doctor and eZdravlje, and bringing medicines from abroad in our guide to bringing medicines into Montenegro. Who is insured with the Fund is explained in our guide to health insurance for foreigners, and aids on prescription in our guide to glasses and hearing aids.
Frequently asked questions
Which medicines are free through the Fund? Basic-list medicines, when your chosen doctor prescribes them in line with the regime code and indication on the list.
What is the supplementary drug list? A list of therapeutic alternatives for which the Fund pays up to the price of the basic-list medicine, and you pay the price difference yourself.
Where can I see the 2026 drug list? On the Health Insurance Fund's website, and the current list applies from 24 July 2026.
What does the code RS on the drug list mean? That your chosen doctor prescribes the medicine based on a specialist's report.
What if the pharmacy does not have a listed medicine? If a basic-list medicine cannot be obtained from a contracted pharmacy or institution, you can buy it, and the Fund refunds the price you paid based on the invoice.
Can I buy a prescription medicine online? No, pharmacies may sell online only medicines issued without a prescription.
Sources
The right to medicines, the basic and supplementary lists, prescriptions, refunds for purchased medicines and co-payment exemptions are set by the Law on Compulsory Health Insurance (Official Gazette 145/2021 and 48/2024, Articles 15, 17, 20, 21 and 49), the current list by the Decision on the basic and supplementary drug lists (Official Gazette 102/2026), published with its annexes on the Fund's drug list page, and online sales of medicines by the Medicines Act (Official Gazette 14/2026, Article 121). The information was checked on 28 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not medical or legal advice.