International experts shock Macedonia: Out of 20 patients who underwent heart surgery, 9 were found to have undergone unnecessary surgery
Express newspaper
16/05/2026 19:05
A group of international experts has shocked the Republic of North Macedonia after they said that nine patients underwent unnecessary heart surgeries, out of a total of 20.
The patients survived and were treated at two public cardiology clinics in Skopje, at the Shtip hospital, at the “8 Shtatori” hospital, and at three private centers – “Kardio Art” from Shtip, the “Zan Mitrev” hospital, and the “Acibadem Sistina” hospital in Skopje, Republika reports.
Health Minister Azir Aliu said that the investigation was conducted in 20 cases and was launched after renowned cardiologist Sasko Kedev warned of cases of abuse and unnecessary treatments that were carried out to embezzle funds from the public budget and from the patients themselves.
The commission held 16 meetings and reviewed 20 cases in detail, while in 13 of them it found suspicions of unnecessary surgeries or surgeries recommended unnecessarily, said Minister Aliu, adding that doctors from Italy and Slovenia also assisted in reviewing the cases. The foreign specialists found that in four of the 13 initial cases the recommended treatment was justified, while in the other nine cases “some aspects of the treatment were below expected professional standards and may have had a negative impact on the clinical outcome.”