Klekovski: More than 30.4 million denars invested in modern equipment for Bitola Hospital

During the 2024–2026 period, Bitola Clinical Hospital purchased modern medical equipment worth more than 30.4 million denars. The new equipment is replacing devices that had been in use for more than 20 years and for which servicing and technical support were no longer available.

Health Minister Sasho Klekovski highlighted the replacement of the fume hood in the Pathology Department as one of the most important interventions. According to him, the previous device had been acquired around 55 years ago, when the hospital was established.

The modernization process also includes the purchase of an electric drill for orthopedics. The Ophthalmology Department has been equipped with a device for cataract surgery using the phaco method and an ultrasound machine, while a set for monopolar resection has been provided for urology. The Internal Medicine Department has also received a new colonoscope and gastroscope, Klekovski said.

The list of equipment procured also includes an optical coherence tomography device, a new DEXA machine for physical medicine and rehabilitation, as well as a robot and modern software solutions integrated with the PACS system. Thanks to these investments, several hospital departments have significantly expanded their diagnostic and surgical capabilities.

Meanwhile, a procedure has been launched to procure equipment that enables ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies. This modern diagnostic method will be used for the first time at Bitola Clinical Hospital, offering patients from Bitola and the wider region faster, more accurate and more accessible diagnosis at their local hospital.

In addition to modernizing its equipment, the institution has also strengthened its professional medical staff. From July 2024 to date, 61 permanent positions have been filled at the hospital.

Klekovski said that, after many years of working with outdated equipment, Bitola Clinical Hospital is now being equipped according to modern medical standards. He stressed that this is not merely about replacing equipment, but represents a concrete investment aimed at safer diagnosis, higher-quality treatment and better healthcare protection for the citizens of Bitola and the entire region.