Skopje, 11 February 2026 (MIA) — The committee of local and foreign experts formed by the Ministry of Health to go over the medical records of people who had lodged complaints of unnecessary cardiovascular procedures being performed on them in local hospitals held an online meeting earlier Wednesday, health authorities said in a press release.

The committee consists of Ministry of Health staff, members of the Doctors Chamber and three foreign doctors: Ugolino Livi, a cardiac surgeon from Italy; Nikola Lakić, a cardiovascular surgeon from Slovenia; and Miha Čerček, an interventional cardiologist from Slovenia.

"We are conducting this process to determine facts based on evidence-based medicine," Minister Aliu is quoted as saying in the release.

He told meeting participants he expected the foreign experts "to provide independent expert insight into whether there are any potential shortcomings in the procedures" and "to help us recognize possible systemic gaps." 

"The findings should strengthen our health care system, and if there is a need, we will also amend the legal regulations," Aliu said. 

The objective is improving the health care system as well as "restoring public trust and introducing European standards," he said. 

The committee was formed this summer after cardiologist Sashko Kedev alleged that some hospitals in the country were doing unnecessary heart surgeries and implanting patients with stents to get money from the state. mr/