Skopje, 17 February 2023 (MIA) – Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi said Friday that a solution has been found for the payment of salaries in healthcare sector, even if the problem with the Health Insurance Fund system is not resolved by Monday.

Speaking to national service MTV, Besimi said that if the Health Insurance Fund does not solve the problem with the hacked system by Monday, funds will be transferred directly from the central treasury, and further a settlement will be made with the Fund.

“The technical problem with the system in the Health Insurance Fund is obvious, and it is a hybrid war that is not only happening in our country, which as a result of that is also the payment of salaries for health workers. If very soon, a day or two, the Health Insurance Fund does not solve the problem with the hacked system by Monday, funds will be transferred directly from the funds of the central treasury, and further a settlement will be made with the Fund. I must emphasize that the Health Insurance Fund has a different payment system than the treasury, so that is the problem. This is outside the regular procedures, but it is within the law,” Besimi stated.

Asked if there are enough funds to pay the salaries of the healthcare sector, Minister Besimi noted that the budget is liquid, as well as that the revenues in the budget from the beginning of the year as of mid-February are higher by 10 percent compared to the same period last year.