4 February – World Cancer Day

On the occasion of 4 February – World Cancer Day, the Health Insurance Fund of Macedonia is sharing key data and figures related to the improvement of diagnostics, equipment and human resources in the oncology care system. The data are an integral part of today’s press briefing and reflect the actual situation and the activities undertaken.

Below is the link to the press statement by the Director General, Mr Sasho Klekovski.

RADIO DIAGNOSTICS

• New digital X-ray machines in: GH Kochani, GH Kichevo, GH Bitola, GH Prilep, HC Zhelezničar, HC Zhelezara, as well as TOARILUC, Digestive Surgery and the Institute of Radiology (2).
• The devices in Probishtip, Berovo, Kratovo and Kriva Palanka have been digitalised.
• New CT in St. Naum Ohridski
• New mammograph in GH Kichevo

ENDOSCOPIES

• New gastro/colonoscopy at the Clinic for Gastroenterohepatology
• New bronchoscopy at CH Shtip

PAP tests in 2025 - 71.000

PATHOLOGY AND MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS

Pathology staff

• Institute of Pathology – 2 residents
• Clinic for Radiotherapy and Oncology - 2 residents
• GAK cytology laboratory – 1 passed specialist examination
• New 3 private specialisations at the Institute of Pathology
• In 2 consecutive calls for state specialisations published during 2025, for the positions announced by the hospitals in Veles (1), Tetovo (1), Bitola (2), Strumica (1) and Ohrid (1), not a single candidate applied! 

Equipment

Institute of Pathology

• Primary processing and morphological analysis of tissues: tissue processor, apparatus for embedding tissues in paraffin, microtome, water bath and 2 microscopes with cameras
• Fume hood with two workstations for macroscopic tissue processing
• In Molecular Pathology, a new thermal cycler and an NGS device have been installed, which is a fully integrated system that automates all steps of the workflow: preparation of libraries and templates, sequencing and analysis of the obtained data.

GH Ohrid

Primary processing and morphological analysis of tissues: tissue processor, apparatus for embedding tissues in paraffin, microtome, water bath.

Challenges

The regional distribution of materials for analysis is NOT functioning – materials from the hospitals in Struga, Veles, Gostivar, Gevgelija, Kichevo, Kochani and others are still arriving at the Institute of Pathology.

Reflex testing means that the pathologist automatically (reflexively) orders and performs additional analyses (most often molecular and predictive) immediately after the initial morphological analyses confirm a malignant neoplasm – without waiting for a separate referral or request from an oncologist. Key characteristics:

• It is based on pre-agreed pathways/protocols between pathologists and oncologists.
• No additional referral is awaited → the analyses are performed continuously with the basic diagnostics.
• The result is an integrated report containing: morphological diagnosis and molecular profile (predictive markers for therapy).

Example: In lung carcinoma – molecular analyses are performed immediately after carcinoma is confirmed, so the oncologist receives a complete report without delay. Main benefit: The time from diagnosis to initiation of targeted/personalised therapy in oncology patients is significantly shortened.

SURGERY

The press statement by the Director General, Mr Sasho Klekovski.