The storm that hit Shtip passed about a week ago. Wind of 134 kilometres per hour tore the roof off the Clinical Hospital. Today, nearly ten days later, the roof is still damaged, and all the hospital has been given are temporary measures to keep the next rainfall out.

The hospital's deputy director, Biljana Eftimova, says the preliminary damage estimate runs into several million denars. The exact figure is still unknown - they are waiting on a report from the insurance company.

The worst-hit wards are on the top floors

The damage is not cosmetic. The roof and the third floor took the most serious hit - which is where the orthopaedic wards and intensive care are. In other words, exactly the parts of the hospital holding the patients who are hardest to move if water starts coming through.

The repairs done so far are partial. A permanent fix requires full replacement and reconstruction of the damaged sections. Until then, every new downpour is a risk for the wards on the top floors.

Project documentation instead of a roof

The hospital management is preparing project documentation and a financial assessment in order to request help from the Health Ministry and the government. Health Minister Sasho Klekovski visited the hospital and promised the ministry would monitor the situation and set aside budget funds for a timely repair, so orthopaedic services can resume.

„Timely repair.” It sounds good. But ten days after the storm, what actually exists on the ground is project documentation still being drawn up, a wait for an insurance report, and a promise that the situation will be monitored.

This is not an investment that needs a feasibility study. This is a hospital roof. By the time the documentation reaches the budget, the budget reaches a tender, and the tender reaches a contractor - how many rainfalls will have passed over those wards?

Eftimova was precise: the damage will definitely run into millions of denars, which is certainly a lot. The question left hanging is whether only the roof gets paid for - or the cost of the delay as well.