Skopje, 30 January 2025 (MIA) - Another batch of cancer treatment drugs that were missing at the Oncology Clinic in Skopje has arrived on Thursday, said Minister of Health Arben Taravari, noting that additional drugs are expected to arrive on Friday and on Monday. According to the Minister, the clinic practically has all the necessary drugs.

"This is the first time in our term that there is shortage of therapy for 10 days. However, let's not forget, 95 percent of the patients are receiving treatment and therapy, there was a shortage for five percent. And let's not forget, we did not make the purchase we are using now, it was made before us, but that is not important for the patients. What is important for the patients is that they have therapy. We are talking about 20, 30 patients, but even if it was only one patient - it is still a lot. That is why we are making utmost effort to ensure that everyone is receiving treatment from next week," Taravari said in response to a reporter's question ahead of the first national consultation on reform of the hospital sector in the country. 

As regards information that the remaining amounts of immunotherapy are being used up at the Oncology Clinic, the Minister expressed hope that there will be no crisis.

"I hope the gap will be plugged soon and there will be no crisis. We are trying to put out fires that were kindled before, with these tenders for this amount of medicines, I am not pinning blame now, that is not important for the patients, they are looking for medicines and treatment. However, with the new supply of medicines, I hope it will not be the case next year that certain medicines will be missing again in January, February...," Taravari told reporters.

Photo and video: MIA