Doctor Darko Vasilevski begins hunger strike before Medical Faculty dean's office
After ministries declared they were not competent, Vasilevski protests his third rejection in a public hiring and alleges opaque selection.
Doctor Darko Vasilevski began a hunger strike on October 1, 2026, in front of the dean's office of the Medical Faculty in Skopje. He staged the protest after learning that, for the third time, he had been rejected in a public hiring process at a research institute affiliated with the faculty.
Vasilevski — a practicing physician and private specialist trainee — says the latest vacancy, for two permanent medical positions at the Institute for Medical and Experimental Physiology with Anthropology, was handled non‑transparently and that the selection procedure raises questions about criteria and equal treatment.
Minister Klekovski: not in my remit, UKIM should decide
Earlier this week the Education Minister Janevska declared herself not responsible for the case. On October 1, 2026 Health Minister Sasho Klekovski likewise said the matter is not within his domain. Klekovski told reporters he is aware of the case but that the issue should be resolved by Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM).
Vasilevski complains that notifications about accepted candidates are sent by e‑mail without a legal remedy and without explanation of the criteria used to select successful applicants. He also alleges age-based discrimination as a factor in the repeated rejections.
The doctor says he will continue the hunger strike until the university provides a transparent account of the selection process or reopens the competition. Faculty and university officials have not published a detailed response to his claims as of October 1, 2026.
Photo: press material from the event
