Constitutional Court dismisses bid to limit doctors’ additional work
Health Minister Sasho Klekovski says extra work is needed for some hospitals outside Skopje, while critics warn of fatigue and access issues.
The Constitutional Court on 30 September 2026 rejected an initiative that would have limited doctors from taking on additional work in other health institutions, leaving the current practice intact.
Minister of Health Sasho Klekovski defended the existing arrangement, saying that the possibility for practitioners to work in more than one place is necessary for the operation of some hospitals and clinics, especially outside Skopje.
Safety and oversight questions
Critics say the decision sharpens long-standing concerns about fatigue and patient safety: if a physician has already completed eight, ten or more hours of work, can they still perform at the same level in another facility? Who is responsible for ensuring that tiredness does not degrade the quality of an examination or a medical intervention?
The ruling also raises ethical and organisational questions about public and private practice. Patients in public hospitals sometimes face long waits, while the same doctor may have available paid appointments — possibly at the same workplace — which fuels debate over fairness and access.
Hospitals, health inspectorates and regulators are now under pressure to clarify who monitors cumulative working hours when a doctor has two employers, and how the system will protect patient safety while preserving services in understaffed areas.
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Photo: press material from the event
