Andonovska: Institute of Public Health Not Responsible for Monitoring Water Quality and Safety

The director of the Institute of Public Health, Marija Andonovska, during her participation in the program “Topic of the Day” on Sitel television, where the situation of water supply in Gostivar was discussed, clarified that the IPH does not have the authority to independently carry out regular supervision and sampling from local water supply networks.

According to her, this responsibility falls on the shoulders of the public enterprises that manage these systems. She made it clear that there is a legal separation between the Institute of Public Health and the regional public health centers, emphasizing that they are distinct entities with separate competencies.

“If you ask me whether we, as the Institute of Public Health, are the responsible unit for conducting the control, my clear answer is: no. There is no legal act or regulation that imposes on us the obligation of water monitoring,” Andonovska stated.

The director stressed that although the institution has advanced laboratories, quality equipment, and a professional team, it does not have the authority to take the initiative in collecting samples from water supply systems. Laboratory analyses are carried out only when there is an official request from a competent inspector or from the municipal public enterprise itself.

“Public enterprises have the legal obligation. They must draw up a supervision program. Based on the regulations of the Food and Veterinary Agency, each such enterprise must have its own monitoring plan and adhere to it rigorously,” Andonovska concluded.