Raids across North Macedonia in probe of alleged financial abuses in the health sector
Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office are conducting coordinated searches at multiple sites; suspects reportedly include private hospital officials and Health Insurance Fund employees.
Police teams from the Department for Combating Organized and Serious Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are carrying out searches at multiple locations across North Macedonia this morning as part of an investigation into alleged financial abuses within segments of the health care system.
"Police officers from the Department for Combating Organized and Serious Crime at the Ministry of Internal Affairs are conducting searches at multiple locations across the country, in coordination with the competent public prosecutor from the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption, within an investigative process into financial abuses in part of the healthcare sector. After the action is fully completed, we will appropriately inform the public."
The Ministry confirmed the operation is ongoing and said it is being conducted in coordination with the competent public prosecutor from the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption. Authorities have not yet released official details about the number of people under investigation or the precise criminal charges because investigative activities are still underway.
Locations, suspects and allegations
Unofficial reports indicate searches have taken place at more than ten sites nationwide, including in Skopje, Tetovo and Kumanovo. Sources familiar with the investigation say those under suspicion include officials from a private medical institution and employees of the Health Insurance Fund.
Investigators are reportedly looking into alleged offences such as abuse of official position and authority, negligent performance of duty, fraud and money laundering. Preliminary information also suggests that several patients treated at the private hospital were harmed by the practices under investigation.
Initial, unconfirmed figures cited by media point to damage to the state budget allegedly exceeding €1.5 million, while the unlawful material benefit obtained by the hospital is estimated at around €4 million.
Among those named in unofficial reports is Den Donchev, who served as director of the Health Insurance Fund from August 2017 until May 2020. Authorities say they will make a fuller public statement once the operation is complete.
Photo: MVR
