Klekovski: Resistance at Oncology Clinic to decentralising therapy, ministry working to resolve
The minister said the Oncology Clinic will remain the central treatment hospital, but some therapies should be shifted to hospitals closer to patients and a national plan will be prepared.
Health Minister Sasho Klekovski said there is resistance at the Clinic for Oncology and at some clinical hospitals to plans to decentralise oncological therapy, and that the ministry is working with hospital leadership to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Speaking at a press conference marking his first 100 days in office, Klekovski listed radiology, oncology, the Clinical Center "Mother Teresa" and a rethink of long‑term care as priority areas where more work is needed.
Where therapy would be provided
Asked about the long‑promised decentralisation of oncological treatment, Klekovski drew a parallel with neurology. He said the ministry encountered resistance when it proposed delivering biological therapies outside the Neurology Clinic, even though many multiple sclerosis patients receive those treatments.
He added: "I will make an analogy with the Clinic for Neurology. They said there is a lot of work because many patients are included on biological therapy for multiple sclerosis. But the moment we said: 'Let's give the therapy outside the Clinic for Neurology', resistance began. And I must say that for a whole year we worked to start that therapy to be applied initially in Shtip, Ohrid and in the City General Hospital '8 September' in Skopje. We will prepare the national plan, however the basis is that the Clinic for Oncology remains the central hospital for treatment, but it is necessary that part of the therapies be transferred to several other hospitals closer to the place of residence."
Klekovski stressed that the Oncology Clinic would remain the central institution for cancer treatment, but that moving some therapies closer to patients' places of residence — in a limited number of additional hospitals — should reduce travel and improve access.
The minister said the ministry is cooperating with hospital managements to overcome objections and to finalise a national plan that will lay out which therapies can be decentralised and how the transfer will be implemented.
Photo: Arhiva na SDK.MK)
