North Macedonia Budget Cuts ‘Put Rare Disease Patients at Risk’

Cuts to North Macedonia’s rare diseases programme have alarmed patient organisations, who warn that the consequences extend far beyond budgetary adjustments. The state programme, which provides therapy for 430 patients, is set to be cut from 24 million euros to 17.5 million euros in 2026.

The cut came when parliament, in December, adopted the 2026 budget. This is the first time the programme has been cut since it was established.

Vesna Aleksovska, president of the Civic Association of Citizens with Rare Diseases, also known as Life with Challenges, says the decision represents both a practical and an ethical failure.

Each year, Aleksovska told BIRN, new patients are diagnosed, making the cut particularly troubling, because the procedures for new patients are complicated and they may lose valuable time in the process.