The Minister of Health, Sasho Klekovski, recently presented comprehensive statistics regarding medical leave utilization for the year 2025. For the first time, the data differentiated between short-term medical leave, defined as periods up to 30 days, and long-term leave, covering durations exceeding 30 days. According to the Minister, a total of over 300,000 medical leaves were registered throughout 2025.
The most frequently cited reasons for taking medical leave were respiratory illnesses and gastrointestinal problems. Klekovski contextualized the 2025 figures by comparing them to the year 2021, which was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a notably high volume of medical leave claims. Despite the pandemic year benchmark, the data showed a 30 percent increase in 2025, amounting to over 300,000 total leaves.
A key observation highlighted by the Minister was a shift in utilization patterns. While the total number of individuals taking medical leave did not increase year-over-year, the average duration of leave per patient demonstrated a rise. Specifically, the average number of medical leave days increased from 1.8 to 2.3.
This suggests that while the population accessing care remained relatively stable, the average duration of necessary medical leave extended. These statistics provide a detailed overview of the current burden on the healthcare system regarding necessary medical absences.
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