A successful liver and kidney transplant has been performed in North Macedonia, as announced at a press conference by Minister of Health, Arben Taravari. Materials for bone tissues were also taken during the procedure.

The director of the Clinic for Digestive Surgery, Prof. Dr. Ognen Kostovski, reported that two complex interventions were carried out at the Clinic for Digestive Surgery on March 12 and 13. These included the successful transplantation of a liver and two kidneys from a cadaveric donor, along with the explantation of bone tissues and ligaments. This marks the fifth liver transplant performed in North Macedonia.

The Minister of Health thanked all the health workers involved, highlighting their dedication despite the challenges they face. He also expressed gratitude to the families whose generosity in donating organs at a time of loss makes these life-saving procedures possible, improving the quality of life for recipients.

The director of the Health Insurance Fund, Sasho Klekovski, mentioned that the Fund has facilitated five patients to undergo transplantation from living donors abroad since July. The objective is to achieve an average of 10 transplants per year in North Macedonia using living donors.

National Transplant Coordinator, Professor Dr. Biljana Kuzmanovska, emphasized the human stories behind the statistics, recognizing organ donors as silent heroes who extend the lives of others.

Prof. Dr. Antović noted that the procurement of a new microscope, crucial for complex interventions involving living donors, is in the final stages.

Furthermore, the first bariatric intervention, fully covered by the Health Insurance Fund’s budget, was performed at the Clinic for Digestive Surgery on a patient with a high body mass index.