Skopje, 14 March 2022 (MIA) – Health Minister Bekim Sali alongside Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj and Japanese Ambassador to North Macedonia Hironori Sawada visited on Monday the Skopje-based surgical clinics on a handover event for new medical equipment as part of a social and economic grant assistance scheme from the Embassy of Japan. “With this event, we are wrapping up the first phase of the social and economic grant for medical equipment worth EUR 813,000. This is a program created by the Japanese Government and intended for assistance to friendly countries. More specifically, it is equipment intended for the treatment of post-covid patients, which includes defibrillators, electrocardiograms, blood analyzers, central monitors, mobile x-ray machines, medical refrigerators and mobile echo machines. The equipment is intended for some of the university clinics, including the Infectious Diseases Clinic, the Clinic for Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, and the 8 September general hospital,” Health Minister Sali said. He pointed out that some of the equipment has already been installed and put to use for the treatment of specific and complex post-covid patients. Sali noted that more equipment is expected to arrive by the end of the year for the other clinics. He thanked the Japanese Embassy, as well as the Ambassador, for their selfless support and commitment to improving the conditions in public health institutions. “As a result of the successful cooperation with the Japanese Government, over the past three years, more than million euros have been invested in new equipment in public health institutions across the country. This is a significant strengthening of the capacities of institutions with new state-of-the-art medical equipment, as well as raising the quality of health care,” Sali said, pointing out that only together we can overcome the covid-crisis. Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj stressed that the Japanese grant is yet another proof of the successful and friendly cooperation between Japan and the Republic of North Macedonia. “The medical equipment worth EUR 813,000 brings direct benefit for our country and the citizens, as well as assistance in strengthening our health system and promoting health services to citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the global image of the world, imposed new rules and confirmed that close cooperation between countries is the only way to deal with global challenges,” said Marichikj. He pointed out that Japan has been the country’s traditional supporter ever since its independence. “Japan has always been by our side when we need help, including the migrant crisis, when it provided us with EUR 4.7 million, the floods in Skopje in 2017, when it donated equipment, and now the pandemic. Translated into funds, it would mean a total of about EUR 421 million, money of Japanese taxpayers, which are implemented by financing various projects to improve the lives of our citizens,” Marichikj said, extending gratitude to the Embassy of Japan, and particularly to the Japanese Ambassador Hironori Sawada. The Japanese Ambassador, speaking Macedonian, said it was a great honor to attend a ceremony where he’s handing over donation, thus strengthening the friendship between the two countries. “The Japanese people are happy and proud to be helping the Macedonian people. I hope the world will overcome the pandemic as soon as possible, and the partnership between our countries will be stronger,” Ambassador Sawada said.