Mucunski: We are working on the process of repatriation of Macedonian patients injured in the fire in Kocani who are being treated abroad

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timco Mucunski said today at a press conference that the process of repatriation of Macedonian patients injured in the fire in Kocani treated abroad is actively working.

« The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Health and the SAO are actively working on the realization of the process of repatriation of Macedonian patients who successfully complete hospital treatment abroad, » Mucunski said, adding that the Ministry of Health as a competent institution had prepared a detailed medical protocol in order to take the process.

He pointed out that the Protocol through our DCP-A has been delivered to health facilities abroad where patients are accommodated and that based on medical teams and official confirmation from the MOH, every step in the return process is organized, including the recommendation for organizing an appropriate type of transportation that coordinates the SAO.

He reiterated that the return of one patient from Serbia was successfully realized yesterday, after which another patient from Greece and four patients from Madrid is expected to arrive today, while several more patients from Belgium, Austria, Croatia and Serbia are expected to return in the coming days.

In the coming period, he said, the focus will be on the safe return of patients, as well as the successful completion of the treatment of those who are still abroad.

Asked whether the costs of patients and the families of patients treated abroad were fully covered.

– As a state from the beginning we have said that the Government will cover the costs of traveling to the families of patients, the cost of accommodating the families of patients through the SAO, there is a modality for which a mobile device will provide coverage of all costs that occur and cover all the additional logistics costs that can occur, including food, and that they can be operated by Mucunski.

He added that they have complete coordination with patient families to comply with minor logistics.

– As for cost coverage, part of that expense is covered through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and part of that expense is covered on the basis of bilateral agreements that exist or decisions made by the governments of the countries receiving these patients in the medical services. The families of those who are treated and those who are treated will have no expense around that process – both from a medical point of view and from a logistical point of view. At the same time, I personally support every donation initiative from a humanitarian point of view we need to think … Our government is to support every humanitarian process, but at the same time to inform the public that in connection with medical and logistics costs, the state is behind these patients and behind these families.