Skopje, 4 April 2024 (MIA) – Health Minister Ilir Demiri and Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, signed Thursday a two-year agreement for cooperation between the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the period 2024 – 2025.

Demiri said that WHO is a constant partner of the Health Ministry in its efforts to improve the capacities of the country’s health system, the Health Ministry said.

“Our continuous and successful cooperation is proven through numerous projects implemented with support from the WHO in the public health institutions in the country. I’d like to thank sincerely the WHO Regional Director, Hans Kluge, for the continuous support aimed at strengthening the health system in North Macedonia and for the ongoing support of the WHO Skopje Office in implementing numerous activities,” said Demiri as cited in the press release.

North Macedonia, he stated, is a country aspiring to join the EU, which is why we are committed to meeting all the obligations stemming from the EU accession process and to fulfilling global and regional obligations, especially the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the 2021 – 2025 WHO European health program and the Western Balkans Roadmap. 

Congratulating Minister Demiri on the excellent cooperation so far, WHO’s Kluge expressed commitment to continuing the cooperation in the future. 

“We’ve taken a number of activities to strengthen the managing functions of the Health Ministry and I’m very proud of them because they are of joint interest. Thank you for the support in successfully implementing the healthcare policies in a sustainable way. North Macedonia is an example for the whole region of the Western Balkans,” Kluge said. 

Signing the cooperation agreement. Demiri and Kluge thanked for the successful work of the WHO colleagues in Skopje, led by Anne Johansen, WHO Special Representative and Acting Head of the WHO Office in North Macedonia.

Photo: Health Ministry