National Association/Chamber

Health psychologists are represented in the Chamber of Psychologists in the Republic of North Macedonia (established in 2007), with adoption of the Law on psychological practice. The Chamber of Psychologists in the Republic of North Macedonia is offering health psychology thematic lectures, workshops and presentations on latest achievements, with the aim to promote the profession and role of health psychologist.

Basic information can be found at: http://komoranapsiholozi.mk/

Education, training and professionalisation

Currently, some regular, and some novel training courses in health psychology are offered at Macedonian universities. The Universities: University American College Skopje, University “St. Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje and University Goce Delcev in Shtip offer bachelor and master degrees in psychology. As part of the bachelor education, they offer courses in Health Psychology. At present only University American College Skopje offer master degree in Health Psychology and Counselling taught in English language.   

Together with the official educational programs, there have been various thematic educational courses, training, and seminars offered mainly by the Chamber of Psychologists in the Republic of North Macedonia, University American College Skopje and other universities for different health professionals with the aim to improve skills, knowledge and communication with patients and clients. On the other hand, a lot has yet to be achieved regarding the status of health psychologists in terms of career positions and acknowledgment as a separate field of expertise. The number of psychologists in health care institutions is gradually increasing in line with the collective recognition of the role of the health psychologist.

Research

Research in the field of Health Psychology and Applied Health Science is primarily implemented by individual health psychology researchers and academics. There are on-going research project on obesity, health professionals and patients’ satisfaction, patient’s rights, diabetes, health risk behaviours in adolescence and adverse experiences in childhood, resilience and toxic stress. There are several publications by Macedonian Health Psychologists in European and International Health Psychology Journals, but there is need for enhancement in this area.