Skopje, 4 September 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Health Fatmir Mexhiti said at a press conference Monday, alongside the acting directors of the state Oncology Clinic, Violeta Klisarovska and Halid Matoshi, that they have insight into what has been happening at the Oncology Clinic, and they have provided the Interior Ministry and prosecution with everything that was requested of them. When asked who is responsible for the crime, the Health Minister said the prosecution should provide the answer.

“I was deeply struck and angered by the case at the Oncology Clinic, over which the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation. The Oncology Clinic that we all know is an institution that should act as a lighthouse of hope for our cancer patients. This case must be fully cleared up as soon as possible. I understand the anger and the frustration that this, still not fully investigated case has caused among our citizens, especially those directly impacted by the diseases,” said Mexhiti at the press conference.

Stressing that he recently took over the post of Health Minister, Mexhiti said he would do everything in his power to ensure that the case is cleared up and the culprits identified and sanctioned, adding that he would work to create the conditions to ensure that this never happens again.

Mexhiti said the Ministry will work closely with the authorities and the judiciary in order to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation, and that they will remain transparent during the process.

“No one from the health system can or will try to protect the culprits in any way. We will carefully monitor the process, and if individuals from the health system try to manipulate the investigation, we will respond firmly,” said Mexhiti.

Additionally, the Health Minister encouraged all associations of patients with cancer, individuals or groups, who are able to aid the investigation to contact them and the authorities. “We must all contribute to ensure a thorough investigation and provide all the necessary information,” said Mexhiti.

Mexhiti said that during his term, the situation at the Oncology Clinic has changed, the decision over the medication for the patients isn’t being made by one or two doctors, he said, but instead by the heads of all 12 departments at the Clinic, once a week.

Health Minister Mexhiti and the Clinic’s medical director Klisarovska stressed that in the past six months, the medication for the patients has been safe and secure, and there haven’t been any manipulations.

“I’ve shared what it was like in the past, and what has happened is not in my domain,” said the Health Minister.

In terms of the CATO system, the Minister said it hasn’t been abandoned, but analyses are underway to determine if it will be put back into use or if they will use another system for medication.

The Health Minister said he met with the directors of the Clinic this morning, and is set to meet with the expert body at the clinic which decides how much medication each patient will receive.

Mexhiti and Klisarovska assured the patients that there are no longer any issues with the medication, and asked the public to avoid spreading any misinformation that could further disturb the patients.

“I want to assure the patients and the public, that the medication provided at the Oncology Clinic is appropriate and efficient. I ask people not to generalize and attack the Clinic’s entire staff, most of which have been doing their jobs properly. Undermining the trust of the patients who are currently taking medication is irresponsible and dangerous,” said Mexhiti.

The Health Minister said they value the care and well-intentioned comments of the citizens, but urged the public to avoid spreading falsehoods, inciting manhunts or hatred, and to instead constructively aid the institutions to provide a swift resolution to the case.

 “The culprits have a name, and in the process of their identification and sanctioning, we must protect the doctors and the entire medical staff that treated and looked after the sick in that clinic with great care and dedication. I want to assure you all that our focus remains on the safety of the patients, transparency and responsibility,” said Mexhiti.

Klisarovska said the employees at the Oncology Clinic are at the disposal of the relevant authorities in order to ensure that the possible culprits are swiftly identified. She condemned any reckless conduct at the Clinic, and called on the authorities to ensure that the possible culprits face justice as soon as possible.

The Clinic’s medical director asked the public not to generalize the problem. She claimed that all patients have been getting their prescribed medication ever since she was appointed director in November 2022.

Klisarovska said she previously had received reports about the safety of the medication, but was unable to prove them, adding that one nurse was fired in May because she was caught with stolen medication, but not the type of medication that the public is currently talking about. She also confirmed that the former Director of the Clinic, Nino Vasev, came to work today.

Photo: MIA