Skopje, 28 February 2026 (MIA) – On the occasion of World Rare Disease Day (February 28) and the end of the eighth season of the Learning About Rare Diseases project, aimed at raising public awareness about challenges patients with rare diseases and their families are facing, Health Minister Azir Aliu vowed the Health Ministry won’t allow rare disease patients to no longer wait for medications.

The procedure how to get medicines for rare disease patients has been changed, he said, and there will be a three-year procedure.

“We’re opening a three-year procedure for the first time in our country. Every year, patients with rare diseases are getting their medicines with delay or, unfortunately, they must wait a week or a month. Since the patients are young and the medicines are related to the patient's weight, it is very difficult to make an analysis that will be accurate for the number of patients that will be served throughout the year. For this purpose, the methodology has changed and now we are already opening a procedure for three years. In case more than the quantities that the state has are spent, we will have time to open another procedure, all in order for the citizens to receive the medicines on time. The tender procedure will be for three years meaning we will use as many quantities as we need,” Aliu stated. 

MIA file photo