Starting from January 1, all retired persons with pensions lower than the average one will be entitled to free health care.

This is one of the conclusions of Sunday's meeting of the Premier Mr. Nikola Gruevski, with the Health Minister Mr. Nikola Todorov, Labour and Social Policy Minister Mr.Spiro Ristovski, and the representatives of the Union of Associations of the Pensioners of Macedonia.

“The discussion addressed the present and future Government measures for improving the living standard of retirees, over-viewing the realization of the free spa vacation project,” Ristovski said to the reporters after the meeting.

"We have supported the Government's measures and asked protection for the retirees' living standard, considering the new power and heating prices. The discussion also referred to raising of pensions, planned for the next three years," said Dragi Argirovski, chairman of the Union that has about 280.000 members.