Profile of the Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation

The Institute for health care and rehabilitation - Banja Bansko is an institution that nurses, educates, takes care and rehabilitates people with physical disabilities. It is the only institution of its kind in the Republic of Macedonia.

The Institute is located on the entrance of the village Bansko, under the Belasica Mountain, near Hotel "Car Samoil". It's composed of two buildings and a 22 000 square meters yard, filled with trees, green grass, flowers and a bridle-path for the residents.

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June 29, 1974 is the date when the Institute was founded by Sue Ryder from England, who also financed the construction of the facility. Part of the project was education of the residents in the Institute. That's why today there are many teachers and professors working in the Institute who teach the residents in primary school. Since the beginning the number of residents has constantly been increasing, so in 2001 began the construction of another building that was finished in 2004. Today the capacity of the Residential Area in the Institute is 65 people. At the moment there are 61 residents in the Institute and they come from many different parts of our country.

The Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation is a public institution. It is under direct authority and protection of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, that takes care for most of the finances needed, but another Ministry that provides significant help to the Institute is the Ministry of Education.

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On September 2, 2007 the older building of the Institute was completely bunt down. Three people (underage children) died in the fire. Today the building is entirely rebuild, thanks to the help of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, donations of many companies and individuals. This renewed building started working on September 8, 2008.