Skopje, 4 September 2023 (MIA) — Everyone involved in the state oncology clinic scandal, regardless of their position, will be held accountable; police investigators and prosecutors are gathering evidence, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said Monday regarding the recent media allegations that University Clinic for Radiotherapy and Oncology staff were withholding life-saving medical care from cancer patients and reselling cancer drugs, which led the Public Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation into the clinic's practices.

"No words can describe the mere thought of such events at the Oncology Clinic. To put it mildly, the human dimension has been lost and these situations went on for a long time. As you know, there were media reports and complaints filed to the Interior Ministry and the Public Prosecutor's Office, which was the main reason for the Public Prosecutor's Office to open a probe," Minister Spasovski said in a TV21 appearance.

He said he could not disclose any more information at the moment. "We cannot share any more details publicly now as the procedure cannot be influenced so as not to jeopardize the evidence procedure, primarily in terms of witnesses," he said, adding that a large number of people were under investigation.

"The perpetrators have first names and last names and they must be found," Minister Spasovski said.

He stressed that whoever was involved will be held accountable and the state would show no preferential treatment.

"There will be no tolerance for this kind of crime, this inhuman behavior," he said.

"There will be no pardoning anyone. Such events have been happening for 20 years. There were allegations many times before, but now the moment has come to clean up corruption, which is why we are taking all the steps and measures available to us.

"Everyone who was involved, regardless of the positions they held, will be part of the process and bear responsibility," Spasovski said. mr/