Activities in Republic of North Macedonia

The Project for Improvement of Medical Equipment for Primary Health Care Services in Republic of North Macedonia

Background of the Project:

In the 30 years from 1971 to 2001, the structure of causes of death among the people of North Macedonia has changed greatly, with the number of deaths from infectious disease, respiratory disease, and other such causes decreasing, and the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease and malignant neoplasms rising. The rates of death from respiratory and infectious disease at the start of the 1970s were respectively 12% and 9%, but in 2001, these rates had dropped to 3% and 0.9%. Concurrently, as the population aged, deaths from heart disease, cancer and other such causes doubled, and cardiovascular disease and malignant neoplasms now account for more than 60% of national causes of death.

Since independence, unstable economic conditions in North Macedonia have made the share of the national budget for health care inadequate, and there has been virtually no improvement in medical facilities and equipment. It has been particularly difficult for the health centers to secure a new budget for facilities improvement other than operating costs, and it has not been possible to replace the existing equipment.

To address these conditions, in 1998 in Macedonian government requested grant assistance from Japan to equip 34 health centers. The Government of Japan accepted to provide grant assistance to Macedonian Government and equip 33 health centers in two phases. In 2001, the Project for Improvement of Medical Equipment for Primary Health Care Services in Local Areas (Phase I) was implemented in 16 health centers. Thereafter, in 2006 the Government of Japan provided equipment for another 17 health centers as a phase II of the project.

Outline of the project

• Project type: Grant aid
• Project objectives:
  To strengthen primary level health care service by procuring the equipment needed for each health center to provide adult, obstetric, pediatric and emergency diagnosis and treatment.
• Project sites: 33 Health Centers
• Duration of Phase I: January 2001 – January 2002
• Duration of Phase II: June 2006 – February 2008
• Executing Organization: Ministry of Health
• Outputs:

1. Implementation of the plan will result in recovery of primary level public health care service functions provided by each targeted health center, allow more accurate diagnosis, and improve both the quality and quantity of primary level health care services in each administrative unit.
2. Recovery of various diagnostic functions resulting from implementation of the plan will allow accurate diagnosis and receipt of treatment at targeted health center in each region and will also alleviate physical and economic burdens form causes previously faced by the local population, including a lack of nearby trustworthy facilities.
3. Procurement of equipment under the plan will serve as a compendium of assistance previously provided by Japan to secondary and tertiary medical facilities and contribute to enhancement of the medical referral system in North Macedonia.