Sasho Klekovski, the candidate for Health who is a doctor by degree, but without professional experience

Sasho Klekovski, proposed as minister of Health, completed his studies at the Faculty of Medicine at UKIM and is a doctor by profession, but does not have a single day of work experience in this sector. In an interview for the program “360 Degrees” on MRT 1, he said that although he graduated with a high GPA of 9.7, he chose not to practice medicine, Nistori reports.

As he explained, his graduation coincided with an extremely difficult period, when the healthcare system was in collapse. “I graduated during an extraordinarily difficult period, when the healthcare system was in collapse. Saline solution was bought in pharmacies and taken to hospitals. In such conditions, I did not see how I could contribute. That is why I decided to pursue another professional path. In the same period, together with other co-founders, we created the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation in 1993,” Klekovski said, recalling his first employment.

He currently holds the post of chairman of VMRO-DPMNE’s Health Commission. According to party rules, he is not allowed to be a member of the Executive Committee at the same time. Asked whether leaving that body amounted to a demotion of his position within the party, Klekovski said: “At the moment I stopped being a member of the Executive Committee, I was elected chairman of the Health Commission.”

He became part of VMRO-DPMNE’s Executive Committee in 2022. Although he had previously been involved in the party, he says that from that moment he became more actively engaged in the party structures. According to him, in the current composition of the Government, only Minister Sanja Bozhinovska has less party experience than he does.

As for his lack of direct experience in the healthcare system, Klekovski assessed that this also brings advantages. “The advantage is that I understand what healthcare workers are telling me, because I know the language of the profession. On the other hand, the fact that I have not worked in the healthcare system means that I do not belong to any interest group. I have no interests linked to surgery, to Skopje, Bitola, or to certain pharmaceutical circles. This helps me be more objective in my assessments. The longer you are part of a system, the more subjectivity increases.”

Speaking about his political activity, he said that his involvement over the years has helped him better understand how the party functions. “I have been coordinator for Aerodrom, Karposh, but also for Brvenica and Krushevo. This gives you the opportunity to understand the differences and expectations of citizens. In addition, through the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation I have visited more than 200 villages throughout the country, so I believe I know Macedonia well.”

With the restructuring of the Government, Klekovski is expected to move from his position as director of the Health Insurance Fund to the post of minister of Health. He is the third candidate for this function in the government of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, after the departure of Arben Taravari and Azir Aliu.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s proposals for the dismissal and appointment of new members of the Government have arrived in Parliament. The plenary session at which these proposals will be reviewed has been scheduled for July 13. /Nistori/