Irregularities in the functioning of 14 public health institutions, two of which are in Skopje, have been identified, according to an extraordinary inspection conducted by the Health Insurance Fund (HSIF) in Emergency Medical Assistance and Home Visit services throughout North Macedonia.
According to the Director of the FSSH, Sasho Klekovski, the inspection included 37 public health institutions - 29 outside Skopje and eight in the capital.
"No shortcomings were identified in 23 institutions, but serious irregularities were found in 14 - two in Skopje and 12 in other cities," Klekovski said.
Seven institutions operated with internal price lists that were not approved by the Health Insurance Fund and the Ministry of Health.
"I'm not saying they were to the detriment of patients, but the fact is they were not officially approved," he said.
Two institutions were found to be incorrectly billing the Fund, and two others were billing for services they were not allowed to bill.
More serious shortcomings were also identified on the ground: in one facility outside Skopje, there were no painkillers, and the medications in the Emergency Room were below the minimum required threshold. In another facility, there were no medical teams at all to provide services.
"All PHIs have been given a two-month deadline to eliminate the deficiencies, after which a re-inspection will follow," said Klekovski, adding that the Fund was not informed in time that the Home Visit in Shuto Orizari had been completely closed due to a lack of staff./Telegraph/
