PM Gruevski: Macedonia to offer tax benefits to boost medical tourism

Macedonia's Government is set to offer tax benefits that will stimulate foreign businessmen to invest in the development of medical tourism.

A law has been already drafted for this purpose, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Saturday after opening the multi-storey car park 'Kresenensko Uprising' and 'Mother Teresa' square in downtown Skopje.

With the law we wish to encourage businessmen investing in hospitals, clinics, to invest in health care free zones, the Government plans to open, above all for boosting the medical tourism, Gruevski said.

Under the law, investors in new health care will not be required to pay any income tax for ten years. Exemptions from VAT and customs taxes on imported medical and other equipment are also put in place.

If the investors also open medical training facilities, where both Macedonian and foreign doctors can work and be schooled, the state will prolong the package of benefits up to 15 years.

The Government expects for investors in health care facilities to along with domestic staff bring in top medical experts from developed countries, who will transfer their knowledge, experience, skills to their Macedonian colleagues, Gruevski said.

Following the law enactment, the Government will launch activities to identify locations for the free health care zones and attract investors ready to embark on such complex operation to bring patients from other countries to Macedonia, Gruevski said.