North Macedonia explores new solutions for medical appointment shortages

North Macedonia’s Minister of Health, Sasho Klekovski, is exploring new solutions to address the shortage of medical appointments and delayed test results. Klekovski noted that the lack of doctors and nurses is a global issue, but emphasized that local delays are largely driven by personnel shortages.

One proposal involves allowing trained healthcare workers, such as nurses or pharmacists, to perform simple diagnostic checks like blood pressure and glucose monitoring. This would aim to utilize existing staff in areas where doctors may not be present, such as local pharmacies.

The initiative comes as North Macedonia faces high mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases. Data from 2025 indicates that 6,888 people died from these conditions, representing a mortality rate of 37.4 per 1,000 inhabitants. Officials noted that undiagnosed diabetes and cardiovascular issues remain significant risks that could be mitigated through easier diagnostic access.