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Thousands in North Macedonia march over claims hospital staff stole cancer drugs to sell on black market

  • Protesters in North Macedonia’s capital Skopje demanded the resignation of the country’s health minister and the hospital management
  • Some said their relatives had died after being given placebos instead of chemotherapy because the drugs had been stolen by staff and sold

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A masked man carries a banner reading in Macedonian “Thieves, murderers” during a protest in front of the public prosecution building in Skopje, North Macedonia on Monday. Photo: AP

Thousands of people protested Monday outside the government headquarters in North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, over allegations that patients at a state cancer hospital missed life-saving treatment because staff were stealing the expensive drugs to sell on the black market.

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Chanting “Murderers”, protesters demanded the resignation of the country’s health minister and the hospital management.

Among the protesters were several people who said their relatives had died after being given placebos instead of proper chemotherapy because the drugs had been stolen.

“My mother had breast cancer and her condition worsened a week after she was admitted to the clinic,” one young man told the crowd. “Unfortunately, she didn’t survive.” The man, who did not give his name, described the hospital’s alleged behaviour “monstrous”.

Protesters in Skopje, North Macedonia on Monday. Photo: AFP
Protesters in Skopje, North Macedonia on Monday. Photo: AFP

The government and hospital officials have sought to assure the public that cancer patients are not at risk, while prosecutors have launched an investigation into the claims.

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Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said on Monday that he “understands the anger and indignation of the people”, but added that the entire state health system should not be blamed.

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