A new method for surgical treatment of spinal deformities was applied this week at the Skopje-based Clinic for Orthopaedic Diseases. A 15-year-old patient was operated for scoliosis and is currently in good health state.

Health Minister Nikola Todorov, who paid Sunday a visit to the Clinic, said a resident doctor trained in Turkey operated on the patent, in the attendance of a renowned spinal surgeon from Turkey.

"This is a method performed for the first time at the clinic and probably in Macedonia, taking into account these deformities were treated with outdated methods thus far. The intervention is conducted with implants (screws) placed in the vertebrae and the deformity is being corrected", said Todorov.

He stressed the method is especially significant for the young population, since it enables correction of the deformities in the earliest stage (14-15 years of age).

"Until now, a large portion of the patients with such spinal deformities were sent abroad, where this surgery costs EUR 35,000-50,000, compared to the EUR 5,000-7,000 if performed in Macedonia. Thus, we would have significant budget savings in the Health Insurance Fund", added Todorov.