North Macedonia government announces healthcare staffing and salary increases

The Macedonian government, led by VMRO-DPMNE, has announced measures to address medical staffing shortages and improve healthcare services across the country. According to MP Aleksandra Nikolovska, the government plans to employ an additional 300 private medical specialists by the end of 2026, completing a planned total of 600 specialists.

Priority for these new hires will be given to general and surgical hospitals located outside of Skopje, specifically targeting deficit medical profiles to ensure citizens in cities such as Shtip, Tetovo, and Kizhevo have local access to specialist care.

In addition to staffing, the government is implementing a long-term plan to increase salaries for healthcare workers. Following agreements with representative unions, healthcare salary funds increased by 10% in 2024. Planned increases include 5% for 2025, between 5% and 7% for 2026, and further increments through 2028. These cumulative measures are projected to result in a total salary increase of over 40% by the end of the mandate.