Over the past three years, the Ombudsman warns that there may be major consequences due to the slow proceedings in which the Health Insurance Fund decides whether a citizen will be sent abroad for treatment, such as, in the end, happened with young Tamara Dimovska from Veles, who died waiting for the decision from the Fund.
This can be seen in the last three annual reports of the Ombudsman, which has almost identical recommendations, but so far nothing has changed.
At yesterday’s press conference, on which he presented the annual report, the Ombudsman Ixhet Memeti said that the only thing this year is better than the past is acting on the filings of the Ombudsman, but, as he said, it does not apply to all institutions.
– Unfortunately, most of the reports end up in the Assembly, one of those is the report for last year, in which I warned of lengthy procedures of the Health Fund. If someone would have addressed the complaints, maybe Tamara wouldn’t have died. It is unacceptable a child to dye due to long procedures, and the decision that the operation is approved to come two days late – said Memeti.
In his last report, Memeti said that the situation of the right of referral for treatment abroad is similar to the situation of the previous year.
“Citizens are again faced with lengthy procedures for decision for treatment abroad, so the Ombudsman demanded acceleration of procedures and decision-making within the legal term,” reads the report.
Excerpt from 2013 report:
“In terms of the right to treatment abroad, the number of complaints is small, and of dealing with them, it is concluded that there are long decision-making procedures and sign the proposal for the treatment abroad by doctors, although no conditions for adequate protection in the Republic of Macedonia. The implications of the Ombudsman are to expedite procedure and properly establish facts, and if it is established that the treatment cannot be provided in the Republic of Macedonia, and then provide medical treatment abroad, were partially accepted.”
Excerpt from the 2012 report:
“Citizens often complained about the untimely responses to requests for approval of treatment abroad. Unlike previous years, this year were submitted small number of complaints related to the right to medical treatment abroad. Ombudsman intervened to speed up the procedure and to properly determine the facts, and if it is established that the treatment cannot be provided in the Republic of Macedonia, to provide medical treatment abroad, after which part of the citizens exercised this right.”
