English
Israeli surgeons from the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv have returned to Macedonia to assist those injured at the “Puls” nightclub tragedy in Kocani. They will remain for one week to provide care to the victims of the disaster that occurred on March 16, 2025.
The team consists of: dr. Moti Harats, Director of the National Burn Center and a recognized expert in plastic and reconstructive surgery and the treatment of complex burns; dr. Matan Sherf, a specialist in plastic, reconstructive, and hand surgery, who heads the Microsurgery Unit within the Department of Hand Surgery; and dr. Tal Kanfino Katz, an orthopedic and reconstructive surgeon in the Department of Hand Surgery and Limb Salvage.
“Dr. Harats and Dr. Kanfino Katz were here immediately following the tragedy, when the Sheba team worked side-by-side with our doctors. They have now returned to continue the patients’ care,” announced Minister of Health Sasho Klekovski on social media. According to the Minister, they will first assess the patients’ condition. This will be followed by medical interventions in Kočani and Skopje, carried out in collaboration with our local medical teams.
Sheba is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. In 2026, Newsweek magazine ranked it 7th among the best hospitals in the world. This marks its eighth consecutive year in the global top 10. “I thank our colleagues from Israel for being here once again. Our patients receive the best possible expertise, while our doctors gain invaluable experience,” says Minister Klekovski.
In the fire that broke out at an illegal nightclub in Kočani, 63 people—mostly young—lost their lives, and over 200 were injured.