[REVISION HISTORY]
Balkan health funds face delays, debt, spending crackdown
Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.
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2026-07-31 11:53 UTC → 2026-08-05 18:15 UTC ·
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Balkan health insurance funds face delays, debt and IT woes debt, spending crackdown
In July 2026 Albania’s Health Insurance Fund was found to have left dozens of applications and voucher cases unresolved since 2019, with several patients still awaiting approval for treatment abroad. A National Auditing Office report on 12 July added that 15 citizens remain pending for foreign treatment and that decisions from 2019‑2025 total dozens, alongside 24 voucher cases worth over €738,000 issued without the required pro‑invoices. The audit highlighted procedural lapses and also noted under‑valuation of assets. the asset register and over‑valuation of contingent liabilities, with the board accepting only two of four recommendations. North Macedonia’s Health Insurance Fund continued to struggle with liquidity. A State Audit Office review showed liquidity, with arrears of about 8.4 billion denars from the Pension pension and Disability Insurance Fund disability scheme and roughly 2.1 billion denars from the Ministry of Health, jeopardising timely payments to providers. Health. Auditors noted highlighted irregularities in nearly half of the hospitals inspected, inspected hospitals, weak procurement planning and an outdated, only partially integrated IT system, including an unused foreign billing module. system. On 28 July the fund announced a record payout of 560.9 million denars for medical‑leave benefits – 420.3 million for maternity leave and 140.6 million for other leave – and claimed that payments were made promptly once contributions were received. benefits. The opposition Levica party warned on 31 22 July that many mothers still had not received no or partial May maternity payments, accusing the fund’s new director and the health minister of failing to resolve describing the chaos delays as a regular practice and demanding immediate, guaranteed disbursements and clear fixed deadlines. A State Audit Office report released On 5 August Fund director Zlatko Perinski announced a crackdown on 30 July confirmed the fund’s debt of roughly 8.4 billion biggest financial leak – overseas treatment spending estimated at about 500 million denars (about €137 (over €8 million) owed by a year. He also reported a 33 % rise in long‑term disease benefits since the pension and disability scheme COVID‑19 pandemic, with more than 300,000 registrations in 2025, and an additional 2.1 billion denars (≈ €35 million) from the creation of a working group, supported by the Ministry of Health for uninsured patients. The audit also highlighted persistent IT shortcomings, such as incomplete integration with Health, medical chambers and the “My Appointment” platform WHO, to audit approvals, tighten controls and delayed electronic prescription rollout. In a leadership shuffle, simplify the disease‑benefit system. Leadership changes saw former Fund director Sasho Klekovski was appointed become Minister of Health, Health while Zlato Perinski took over as Fund director. The Fund also faces a lawsuit from a German hospital seeking over €430,000 for treatment of Macedonian patients due to unpaid obligations.
Versions
- 2026-08-05 18:15 UTC Balkan health funds face delays, debt, spending crackdown
- 2026-07-31 11:53 UTC Balkan health insurance funds face delays, debt and IT woes
- 2026-07-31 10:14 UTC Balkan health insurance funds face delays, debt and IT woes
- 2026-07-30 09:04 UTC Balkan health insurance funds face delays, debt and IT woes
- 2026-07-29 23:47 UTC Health insurance fund delays in the Balkans
- 2026-07-29 23:32 UTC Health insurance fund delays in the Balkans
- 2026-07-28 15:28 UTC Health insurance fund delays in the Balkans
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