North Macedonia arrests leaders of International Medicare Hospital

Authorities in North Macedonia have arrested Bilal Kara, owner of the International Medicare Hospital (also known as Sante Plus), and Geriana Arapi, the former director of the facility. Both individuals were wanted by the Tirana Prosecutor's Office on charges of financial fraud and document falsification.

The arrests were conducted to facilitate extradition to Albania. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from a Portuguese citizen, Carlos Santos, who reported paying several thousand euros in cash for medical procedures, including a hair transplant and eyelid surgery, without receiving official tax receipts. The victim reported that after making a third payment, he was told his surgery could not proceed because the scheduled doctor was leaving for Turkey.

The clinic, International Medicare, had previously been blocked in Tirana in September 2025.