Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP Ermal Sadiku was turned away today from the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) without taking the drug test.
The young politician, who intends to join the challenge issued by Alliance MP Burim Ramadani, was told that the test at the Toxicology Laboratory could only be conducted on Monday, as the equipment was not functioning on Friday.
In a statement to KosovaPress, Sadiku said he would return on Monday to take the drug test, emphasizing that he remains ready to undergo the process.
“This is the second time I have come. The idea is to do it voluntarily, to at least show the public that we politicians, who have taken on the responsibility of doing this work for this country, need to take care of our health, but especially [to stay away from] narcotic substances and not abuse alcohol or things like that. That is why I wanted to take the test, but it could not be done today,” Sadiku told KosovaPress.
However, the MP said he was surprised by the explanation given to him by the laboratory staff.
“They had some problems with the equipment. I will come on Monday or Tuesday, depending on when it is repaired. I have received the referral, but now I also have to come and take the test. They told me that the equipment had been moved from one place to another and that it needed to be shut down or something like that. It is a strange explanation, but that is not important. I don’t want to be cynical, but I believe that this is how things happened, and I will come next week and take the test,” Sadiku said.
Previously, Sadiku obtained the referral at the Psychiatry Clinic, as did Time Kadrijaj two days earlier, without undergoing any procedure. This comes after MP Bekë Berisha was told on Monday that he also needed to take the test at this clinic.
However, the director of the clinic, Faton Kutllovci, who is currently on leave abroad, told KosovaPress that testing at the Psychiatry Clinic is carried out only for patients hospitalized in the addiction disorders ward who are motivated to stop abusing these substances. For these patients, the clinic staff send samples to the Toxicology Laboratory for analysis.
“At the Psychiatry Clinic, these tests are carried out only for patients hospitalized in the addiction disorders ward who are motivated to stop abusing these substances. For these patients, the clinic staff send samples for analysis to the Toxicology Laboratory,” Kutllovci said.
Meanwhile, for people who are not hospitalized at the Psychiatry Clinic, he said, a specialist may issue a referral for testing if they deem it necessary.
However, because he is not currently in Kosovo, he was unable to answer what procedures MPs are following to obtain referrals.
KosovaPress was unable to obtain a response from UCCK regarding these procedures.
