The modular hospital in Tetovo was built according to international and domestic standards, while the fire protection plan was to be prepared and implemented by the hospital staff under the management of the Director of the Hospital in Tetovo, informed the World Bank for “Deutsche Welle”.

The tender for the construction of the Tetovo modular hospital, as well as for the other 16 modular hospitals across the country in October 2020, was implemented in accordance to domestic regulations and rules of the World Bank, from where the Macedonian Government received a loan of 3.8 million euros.

“Deutsche Welle” reminds that the Municipality of Tetovo has already come out with a claim that they had no competencies in the phases of construction and control of the facility, while the authorities in the hospital so far have had no reaction, which is also due to the current investigation.

– The project list for construction of the modular hospitals included specific measures focused on fire protection and preparation for emergencies during the construction, and there was also an obligation to establish a “Fire Protection Plan” at the start of work on the facility, explains for “Deutsche Welle” a representative of the World Bank. That plan was to be “developed and implemented by the appointed hospital staff under the responsibility of the Hospital Director”, they added.

The fire in the modular hospital in Tetovo broke out on the night of September 8, and took the lives of 14 people. The Government and the Ministry of Health have so far in several occasions claimed that the facilities were according to all world standards and encouraged the competent institutions to their job during the investigation.

Translation: N. Cvetkovska