Bitola, 17 December 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski alongside Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti and Deputy Health Minister Maja Manoleva, presented new equipment for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) helicopters in Bitola on Sunday. 

The new resource is provided in cooperation with the Slovenian police that has donated equipment for one helicopter, which can be adapted for multiple helicopters. The entire change of equipment takes about 15 minutes, and emergency service from any part of the country can be performed in 40 minutes. The helicopter has medical equipment for air transport, and the General Hospital 8 September will provide an experienced professional team to accompany patients. 

"Since the founding of the modern Macedonian state, we have not had the resources to transport patients by air. We are promoting something that is extremely important for the citizens of our country. We have excellent cooperation with the Slovenian police and particularly between the two helicopter units. In the spirit of our friendship and partnership, the Slovenian police donated equipment to restore one helicopter, and it can be adapted for several of our helicopters to carry out patient transport," Spasovski said. 

The event in Bitola started with a delay because the EMS helicopter had to intervene in inaccessible terrain near the village of Bukovikj.

"We were late because a person who had an accident near the village of Bukovikj needed help. It was a hunter that we had to transport due to fractures. Assistance via the Emergency Medical Service was not possible due to inaccessible terrain, and we assisted with this EMS helicopter. Thus, the promotion of the helicopter was made today with timely medical assistance to a patient," said Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti. 

According to him, fast transport of patients is extremely important in emergency situations.

"The first 60 minutes from the time of injury, we doctors use the term "the golden hour", are critical for receiving definitive treatment that can significantly improve chances for a positive outcome. We now have ultrafast transport for all such medical conditions," Mexhiti said. 

According to the Deputy Health Minister Maja Manoleva, the EMS helicopter is one of the largest projects in the field of health transport in the country.

The Ministry of Health said a special call center responsible for coordination is to be set up, and expansion and inclusion of more medical centers in the country is planned.

Photo: MIA/Ministry of Health