Skopje, 25 December 2025 (MIA) - Health Insurance Fund head Sasho Klekovski said at a meeting with journalists that 2025 is being successfully wrapped up, reflecting the changes and objectives set for the year, while the budget is set to increase by 2.5 percent in 2026. He added that 2026 will be a year of stabilization and finalization of activities launched in 2025.

The 2026 budget, he said, will help stabilize what was built in 2025, but will fall short in covering sick leave compensation, as higher average wages have led to increased benefits, particularly maternity leave payments.

This year, capitation payment for primary care physicians were increased by 33 percent for family doctors and gynecologists, while the increase for dentists was lower, as they had already received an increase the previous year. We expect a stricter sanctioning policy in line with the agreed objectives, which include reducing the use of antibiotics, anxiolytics, and sick leave. Controls will be carried out in certain activities regarding double charging for services, services that must not be billed to citizens but exclusively to the Fund. That means services are invoiced to the Fund and charged to insured persons. The first report will be presented tomorrow together with the Public Revenue Office, Klekovski said.

Regarding laboratories, he announced a novelty for January, the inclusion of a new genetic research institution in the Fund’s public healthcare network, aimed at increasing capacity for genetic testing.

According to him, the key achievement in public healthcare is the increase in salaries.

Overall, salaries rose by a cumulative 17 percent in 2024/2025, with equal increases for all employees. The objective was to provide more dignified treatment for lower-paid jobs. This policy will continue in 2026. Based on an agreement between the unions and the Prime Minister, wages will increase by seven to nine percent in March, Klekovski said.

He noted progress in patient treatment through more advanced methods at the Clinical Center, announced further expansion of the positive list of medicines, quality control of cardiac surgeries and private dialysis providers, and exploration of genetic embryo screening.

Photo: MIA