By securing funds first concrete conditions are created for construction of the new University Clinic Centre in the municipality Gjorche Petrov, Skopje.
This is one of the decisions adopted at today’s 148th session of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia.
The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia adopted the Communiqué on the funding method for construction of University Clinic Centre on Greenfield location in Skopje, as well as the Communiqué for commencement of the realization of new University Clinic Centre. The Ministry of Finance is assigned, together with the Ministry of Health, to start negotiations with the consortium of banks Erste Group, Raifaisen Bank and UniCredit for a loan secured with ESA guarantee. At the session, the Ministry of Health, as a contractual authority, was assigned to conduct the public procurement procedure for construction. With a view to the needs and realization of the new University Clinic Centre and having in mind that other ministries and institutions will have their obligations, to provide a 30 days deadline in which the former will have to look into the possibility for contribution to the realization and will provide their feedback to the Government. On today’s session it was concluded that if all procedures follow the foreseen dynamics, it is safe to expect that in the course of the winter groundbreaking procedure will follow for the new University Clinic Centre in Skopje. This Clinic Centre will guarantee high-quality health care services for the population in the country.
Furthermore, the Government adopted two more decisions in the area of health.
It adopted the draft-regulation for amendments to the Regulation on health institutions network. The Ministry of Health explained that this Regulation will withdraw the limitation for opening of pharmacies and specialist practices which may sign an Agreement with the Health Insurance Fund in accordance with the financial capacities of the Fund while keeping the quality criteria. The purpose of this regulation is to overcome the problem with the lack of medicines. The pharmacies which so far had no agreement with the Health Insurance Fund will now have this opportunity. Moreover, the objective is to motivate young doctors to open their specialist practices and to have agreements with the Health Insurance Fund – something that was not possible so far.
In addition, the Government adopted the draft Program amending and modifying the Program for the needs of specialist and sub-specialist staff in pursuance to the health institutions network, thus increasing the number of approved specializations in the country.
Moreover, the Government discussed and adopted the Communiqué on conducted quality controls for children’s toys which are sold on the territory on our country referring to Q1 2019. The Ministry of Health – National Sanitary and Health Inspectorate, to continue delivering the Government information on conducted quality controls for children’s toys, as well as to conduct mass quality control of toys sold on the territory of our country.
Today the Government discussed and adopted the Communiqué for construction and equipment of a kindergarten in municipality Ilinden. Having in mind that funds are needed for completion of the kindergarten’s construction, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy was assigned to allocate funds in the amount of 6,082,003.00 MKD for machine installations and procurement, delivery and mounting of equipment for the kindergarten thus, enabling its functionality for the needs of the children in this municipality.
Moreover, the Government discussed the Communiqué on financial support and funds for the repair of damages to schools in the municipality Resen that were caused by the thunderstorm on July 10th this year. The Ministry of Education was assigned to repair and indemnify the damages to the school premises caused by the thunderstorm, using funds from their own programs.
The session discussed and adopted the draft law on converting claims of the Republic of North Macedonia based on public fees into a permanent deposit in the Company for production of products with special purpose 11 Oktomvri – Eurokompozit AD Prilep.
Moreover, the members of the Government adopted the draft program for financial support in agriculture for 2019 which foresees measures for support of the agriculture and indemnification. This involves support of income for agriculture, direct payments for crop and livestock production, as well as state aid for agriculture on insurance premiums, for protection of agricultural land, for help in livestock sector, for financial support on wheat storage from 2019 domestic crops, for assistance in supporting the costs for purchase of fuel for agricultural machines, additional help for sold but not paid wine grapes in the period August 15th 2014 – November 15th 2016, and arrears pursuant the measures from the programs on financial support for agriculture in the period 2009 – 2018.
A draft program on capital subsidies for centres for development of planning regions in the area of agriculture and rural development was adopted.
Furthermore, the Government on today’s session discussed and adopted the Communiqué regarding the need of conducting vetting process for the employees in the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry of Interior is assigned, no later than 20.08.2019 to create a Working Group which is to prepare draft-plan on measures, activities and dynamics for implementation of the process and to deliver it to the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia no later than 01.10.2019. MoI’s Communiqué states that the vetting process in the Police forces, when it comes to developed countries, is a part of the ethics and professional standards and is part of the protective security policies. In order to create just institutions, using high standards of integrity, increase of professionalism of employees, reinforcement of the fight against crime and corruption, securing honest, credible and devoted police officers and as said, it is necessary the MoI to start preparation of draft-text for a special law that will define all necessary elements for efficient implementation of the vetting process i.e. assessment of the employees in the Ministry. The inter-department working group is to include employees in the Ministry, experts, representatives from the OSCE Mission in this country, representatives from the NGOs, and will be tasked to conduct comprehensive analysis for the current standing, to determine concrete model for implementation of the vetting process for the employees in the MoI using comparative experiences and to prepare a draft law accompanied by an Action Plan.
