SDSM: Health system in chaos — scanners do not work and medicines are missing

The opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM) accused the country's health system of being in disarray, citing broken diagnostic machines, medicine shortages and long waits for tests and treatment.

Key claims from the party

SDSM says that at the main Clinical Centre "for three weeks not a single CT scanner has been working. Three weeks patients wait for an examination, but illness does not wait. In the past two years the PET scan has not been working, although it is necessary for oncology patients. It broke down, it did not work, then it worked for only two days and broke down again. And patients wait up to five months for a PET scan."

The party added that some clinics are operating with a reduced number of operating theatres, faulty medical equipment and a shortage of medical staff.

On the experience of ordinary patients, SDSM warned that "citizens wander from one hospital to another, wait for months for examinations and diagnostics, despite having regularly paid health insurance."

They also highlighted repeated interruptions in cancer therapy, saying: "Last year 1,000 new patients with breast cancer were diagnosed — this is a devastating figure. Several times oncology patients were left for months without the necessary therapy due to administrative irresponsibility and the lack of interest of this government."

The opposition connected the health complaints to recent problems with water supply in Gostivar, claiming more than 5,000 people were affected and that results on water quality have still not been published for more than 50 settlements.

SDSM concluded by calling for accountability and demanding a resignation: "This government failed on the most important thing — protecting the health of citizens. There must be accountability, resignation from Klekovski," the party said.

Photo: press material from the event