Mucunski: The return of the first patients being treated abroad begins next week
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced at today's press conference that the return to the country of the first patients who are being treated abroad and are in good health to return will begin next week.
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He said that a coordination meeting will be held at the Ministry today on next steps and measures for appropriate organization for the expected return of all recovered patients or for the continuation of their treatment in the country.
-The announcements we have are that the first patients will start returning next week, we receive those announcements in direct communication with where they are located and who will be in good enough health to be able to return, said Mucunski at the press conference.
The Minister informed that a total of 116 patients with injuries from the fire in the disco in Kocani are being treated in foreign hospitals in 14 European countries. The costs of their treatment are covered by the host countries where they are being treated, while the travel and accommodation of their loved ones and the costs of all logistics for their stay abroad are covered by the Macedonian government.
The largest number of injured people have been sent for treatment to hospitals in Serbia - 31, followed by 15 in Bulgaria, 12 each in Turkey and Greece, seven in Spain, six patients each in Austria and Hungary, five in Croatia, four patients each in Belgium, Lithuania, Italy, Sweden and Slovenia, and two patients in Poland.
The Czech Republic and Israel sent medical teams, while Romania, Luxembourg, Norway and Finland provided logistical support for the transport of the injured.
Mucunski announced that he will leave for Budapest tomorrow to visit the injured in hospitals there and informed that Macedonian diplomatic and consular missions are in 24-hour communication with families in the countries where their loved ones are being cared for and that all necessary expenses have been covered.
He also pointed out that the hotlines of the Ministry and the Environmental Protection Agency remain open for all questions and needs.
