Skopje, 9 June 2025 (MIA) -- Parliament elected Monday computer science professor Azir Aliu minister of health, with 65 lawmakers voting in favor, 15 against and no abstentions. He is replacing neurologist Arben Taravari, who recently resigned from the health minister post to go into opposition.

Earlier Monday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said in his remarks at the parliamentary session that Aziri's "energy and knowledge would introduce a new dimension into public health management."

"Doctor Aliu is a computer science doctor," Mickoski said. "A professor, a man, who has been dealing with management of systems, data and digital solutions for years."

The prime minister also said the current government was committed to improving health care through offering screening tests, cutting wait times, adding new prescription medications to the national Positive List of Prescribed Drugs while also working on amendments to laws "to bring order to the system."

In addition, he said, the government was developing projects for building and renovating health facilities and digital services "to prevent abuse."

He said Aliu would have "strong support" as part of the government as well as "a strong personal responsibility." 

"We have great expectations of him, and time is not our ally," Mickoski said.

Azir Aliu, born in Gostivar in 1976, teaches at the Tetovo South East European University. He served as minister of information society and administration in 2023-2024. He is a member of the Alliance for Albanians wing that stayed in the Worth it coalition after Taravari's faction left it on May 15. mr/