Skopje: Scandal at the Oncology Clinic/ Tumor patients' medicines are stolen

2023-09-04 22:09:43, Kosova & Bota CNA

Skopje: Scandal at the Oncology Clinic/ Tumor patients' medicines are

Oncology Clinic in Skopje

The scandal at the Oncology Clinic at the Skopje State Hospital has provoked many reactions in the public opinion, among medical workers but also among political parties.

After an article in the Macedonian newspaper Fokus about the theft by the medical staff of medicines and therapy from the Oncology Clinic and their sale in other markets, the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Skopje confiscated two computers in this hospital and raided two private apartments in Skopje, but without giving other details related to the case.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health calls not to label the entire clinic and medical professionals in general for an individual suspected of being the perpetrator in this case.

The Minister of Health, Fatmir Mejhiti, and the Director of the Oncology and Radiotherapy Clinic, Violeta Klisarova, hinted at a press conference today that a nurse previously employed at this hospital and fired in the spring of this year had previously been accused for theft of patients' therapy, while they did not want to talk about responsibility during the period when they did not have a management role.

Mr. Mejhiti says that independent investigations must be conducted and that no one in the health system will be able to protect those involved in such criminal actions.

"The perpetrators of the crime have a name and a surname, and in the process of detection and sanctioning, we must protect doctors and all medical personnel. We encourage all associations of cancer patients, individuals or groups that can help with this investigation to contact us and the investigation institutions", said Minister Mejhiti.

Meanwhile, among some patients or family members who have lost relatives to cancer, suspicions about the manipulations with herbs in the state Oncology clinic are increasing.

Whether it was possible for the patients during the therapy to be given physiological solution instead of cytostatics, as there are doubts - this must be proven by the Prosecution's investigation.

The case has deepened the clashes between the opposition and the ruling parties.

VMRO-DPMNE calls the act a criminal and monstrous union of several persons from the field of medicine, relatives of the ruling parties.

"Instead of medicines being given to those who need them the most or who are dying of pain, they oversell the herbs leaving the patients at the mercy of fate", said Hristijan Mickovski, president of VMRO, requesting criminal and political responsibility.

But, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said that there will be no forgiveness for anyone and that after 20 years, criminality in Oncology is being cleaned up, as he said.

"It is about multi-party and multi-ethnic criminality that must be cleaned up", said Mr. Kovacevski.

The Democratic Union for Integration demands that politics stay away from investigations into this issue, while the persons responsible are brought to justice.

Meanwhile, the Macedonian President Stevo Pendarvoski sees the failure of the health system and the loss of credibility not only among sick people, but also questions the quality of patient treatment in the future.

Associations of patients affected by cancer have warned of protests in front of the government and the Ministry of Health./ VOA