Ministry of Health: Patient Seriously Injured in Kusadasi Successfully Brought Back from Turkey

A patient from Skopje who suffered a spinal cord injury was safely transferred from Turkey and admitted to the University Clinic for TOARILUC. According to the Ministry of Health, the transport was carried out thanks to the swift response and coordination between the Ministry of Health, the Government, the Service for General and Common Affairs, and the medical teams.

The injury occurred during an incident on a water slide while the patient was vacationing at the Turkish resort of Kusadasi. On July 23, he underwent surgery at a local hospital, where he continued to receive treatment until his transfer back home.

The Ministry of Health said that, due to the serious nature of the injury and the recommendation of Turkish doctors, it immediately began coordinating the relevant institutions and healthcare authorities. In cooperation with the Government and the Service for General and Common Affairs, air medical transport was secured using the government aircraft. The ministry described the complex medical operation as evidence of the importance of swift and efficient institutional cooperation in protecting citizens’ lives and health.

Throughout the process, the Ministry of Health maintained uninterrupted communication with the institutions and medical teams involved. The aim was to bring the patient back home as quickly as possible and under safe conditions, while enabling him to continue his treatment.

The clinic’s director, Dr. Igor Merxhanovski, said that colleagues had requested air transport because of the severity of the injury and the need for a rapid and safe transfer. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health, the Government, and the Service for General and Common Affairs for their timely response and support in organizing the transport.

A professional medical team led by the head of KARIL, Dr. Marta Treneva, traveled to Turkey to retrieve the patient. Until arriving in Skopje, the team provided the patient with continuous care and medical supervision throughout the journey.

Following the successful completion of the transport, the patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Clinic for TOARILUC, where he will continue his treatment.

Dr. Merxhanovski stressed that the patient’s health condition requires intensive care. The medical documentation has already been analyzed, while the surgery performed in Turkey was assessed as appropriate and professionally carried out. According to him, spinal cord injuries are among the most serious forms of trauma and require careful monitoring, long-term treatment, and a multidisciplinary approach.

Additional examinations have been scheduled for the coming period, and their results will determine the next steps in treatment and rehabilitation. Depending on the patient’s health condition, physical therapy at the spinal center in the country is also planned.