SDSM: Gostivar Hospital Lacks Capacity to Deal with Epidemic, Patients Transferred to Tetovo

SDSM has stated that the healthcare system in Gostivar lacks the capacity needed to manage the epidemic caused by contaminated water. According to the party, the hospital has only one infectious disease specialist, four residents and on-call dermatologists.

Because of this situation, SDSM claims that patients from Gostivar are being sent to Tetovo for treatment, while accusing the government of improperly managing the crisis.

The party said the presence of bacteria in the water supply system had been confirmed, but that there was still no official document certifying that the water was technically safe.

Criticism was also directed at Interior Minister Pançe Toshkovski’s appeal urging citizens to flush the water from their taps, as well as at the announcement that new water tests would be carried out.

SDSM described the situation in Gostivar as a “complete collapse of accountability” and claimed that the government was not responding appropriately to the crisis.