Venko Filipče


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Venko Filipče (Macedonian: Венко Филипче, pronounced [ˈvɛŋkɔ fiˈlipt͡ʃɛ]; born 13 June 1977) is a Macedonian neurosurgeon, former health minister of North Macedonia from 2017 to 2022, and the president of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia. He served as the health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia. In addition to his work as a surgeon and health minister, Filipče has also published scientific articles in medical neurosurgical journals.

Venko Filipče

Венко Филипче

Official portrait, 2020

Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office
30 June 2024
Prime MinisterHristijan Mickoski
Preceded byHristijan Mickoski
Leader of the Social Democratic Union
Assumed office
30 June 2024
Preceded byDimitar Kovačevski
Minister of Health
In office
25 December 2017 – 17 January 2022
Preceded byArben Taravari
Succeeded byBekim Sali
Personal details
Born13 June 1977 (age 47)
Skopje, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partySocial Democratic Union of Macedonia
Alma materSs. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje

Early life and education

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Venko Filipče was born on 13 June 1977 in Skopje. He is the son of Ilija Filipče, a Macedonian doctor and a professor, who served as the minister of health of the Republic of Macedonia in the period between 1994 and 1997.[1] Venko Filipče finished his high school in Skopje in 1995. He obtained his diploma from the Medical faculty of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje in 2001 and became an assistant in 2004. His specialization in neurosurgery started in 2003 and finished in 2008. Filipče obtained his Master's degree in neurosurgery in 2011 and his doctor's thesis, titled "Evaluation of adequate timing for the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms" in 2015.[2]

In addition to his PhD, Filipče also studied for a year at Ohio State University and Dayton Ohio in the field of neurosurgery. He also received training in endovascular techniques in neurosurgery at medical centers in Ljubljana, Istanbul, Zürich, Graz and Belgrade.[1] In 2012, he obtained a fellowship in interventional neuroradiology.[3]

 
Filipče visiting the National Institute of Public Health in Skopje during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Filipče has published several scientific studies as the leading author in a variety of neurosurgical journals. He serves as the Secretary of the Macedonian Neurosurgical Association and the Association of Neurosurgeons of Southeastern Europe.[3]

Before starting his mandate as the health minister of North Macedonia in December 2017, Filipče was a health counselor to prime minister Zoran Zaev and worked as a professor at the Medical Faculty in Skopje. He is a pioneer in the field of neurovascular techniques used in the treatment of vascular anomalies in the brain.[1]

Filipče served as the Health Minister during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia, which gave him a lot of exposure during his frequent public appearances and press conferences.[4]

On 10 September 2021, following a fire incident at a modular COVID unit in Tetovo in which 14 patients lost their lives, Filipče announced a written resignation to the PM due to "moral reasons".[5][6]

On 30 June 2024, he became the president of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia.[7]

Filipče is married and has one son.[3]

List of published articles

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  1. ^ a b c Popovski, Martin (16 August 2018). Сите луѓе на Венко Филипче во македонското здравство [All of Venko Filipče's people in the Macedonian health ministry] (in Macedonian). Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Доц. Д-р Венко Филипче" [Dr. Venko Filipče] (in Macedonian). Zdravstvo.gov.mk. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Биографија на новиот министер за здравство – кој е Венко Филипче" [Biography of the New Minister of Health - who is Venko Filipče]. Vesti 24 (in Macedonian). 27 December 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. ^ Jakov Marusic, Sinisa (10 September 2021). "North Macedonia's Health Minister Urged to Resign Over Hospital Inferno". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  5. ^ Talha Ozturk, Mustafa (10 September 2021). "North Macedonian health minister resigns over deadly COVID hospital fire". Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  6. ^ Министерот за здравство Венко Филипче си поднесе оставка од функцијата по трагедијата во Тетовo [Health Minister Venko Filipce announced his resignation after the tragedy in Tetovo] (in Macedonian). Kanal 5 Televizija. YouTube. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Venko Filipce is the new president of SDSM". Sloboden Pecat. 1 July 2024.
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Social Democratic Union
2024–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Health
December 2017 – January 2022
Succeeded by

Bekim Sali