Water Contamination in Gostivar Sends More Than 200 Patients to Tetovo for Treatment

The suspension of operating room and maternity ward activities at Gostivar General Hospital following water contamination has led to an increased influx of patients at Tetovo Clinical Hospital.

Since mid-July, more than 200 patients from Gostivar have sought medical treatment and surgical procedures at the Tetovo hospital. In the first few days, the largest number of cases was recorded in the obstetrics ward.

The first patients arrived on July 19, while the main demand was in gynecology, particularly for cesarean deliveries.

Eldiar Zylbehari said the gynecology ward is seeing a higher number of patients referred from Gostivar General Hospital. According to him, 12 patients referred in advance by Gostivar’s obstetrics ward have so far given birth in Tetovo, while the treatment and conditions provided are the same as those offered to other patients.

The increase in cases has not been limited to gynecology. The Urology ward has performed 10 surgical procedures and conducted more than 50 examinations, while Orthopedics has also recorded an increased workload.

Florim Deari said the situation in Gostivar has led to an increase in patients seeking procedures and examinations in Urology, as well as in the surgical department generally. He said that around 10 procedures involving the prostate and stone removal have been performed in Urology, while the number of patients receiving urological examinations has exceeded 50.

According to Deari, 9 patients from Gostivar have undergone surgery in digestive abdominal surgery, and 45 examinations have been conducted. In abdominal surgery, 3 operations and 37 examinations have been performed. Meanwhile, Orthopedics has recorded 60 examinations and two orthopedic operations.

Tetovo Hospital officials say that, despite the growing influx, the institution has sufficient capacity to treat all cases. The operating rooms in Gostivar will remain closed by order of the Ministry of Health until the publication of official results showing that the drinking water is completely safe./TV21/