The Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, while mentioning some of the achievements of the past year in health, said that based on the national development program 2024-2026, the health sector aims at two strategic goals, which include improving the quality and access of health services, as well as the preservation and advancement of health.
Vitia said this in the Commission for Health and Social Welfare, while talking about the plan and work priorities of the Ministry of Health for 2024.
Minister Vitia was asked if there is a strategy to stop doctors and specialists from fleeing Kosovo.
"In February 2023, I think it was the most substantial increase for specialist doctors, this was the first in this function, as far as working conditions are concerned, but in KKUK radical transformations are being made in many of the clinics which have needed to be invested for many years in a row, on the other hand, the specialists who, during 2020, received self-financed specializations, continued their continuous subsidization despite having signed a contract where they accept that they themselves bear the costs of this specialization, but one thing I have noticed is that this migration is inevitable, it is continuing in other countries of the Western Balkans, but it is also continuing in countries like Germany, fleeing to Switzerland, and this is a phenomenon that we, despite all the measures we have taken to improve salaries, allowances, conditions, equipment, I am sure that it will continue. The idea is that we should make plans based on this direction as well", he said.
Vitia said that the functionalization of the Health Information System, the drafting of clinical protocols, preparations and measurements for the health insurance system are in process. He added that the establishment of standards for the safety of medicines and the affordability of their prices is in the final stage.
In addition to these, Vitia mentioned that three new vaccines have been provided in the regular vaccination calendar, including the HPV vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer.
Meanwhile, there were discussions about the Health Information System (HIS) of services between the member of the commission from the ranks of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Bekim Haxhiu and Minister Vitia, where it was said that over several years millions of euros have been spent, but that it has not been made a solution.
Haxhiu said that we cannot even talk about modern and contemporary healthcare until we have health insurance, adding that the waiting lists are still present.
He emphasized that minister Vitia is only mentioning renovations, while there is no increase in services.
PDK MP Bekim Haxhiu said that even after four years of government, there are no improvements in terms of health insurance, health law, health system reform and others.
Meanwhile, regarding these, the Vitia ministry said that the renovations are not being done only superficially, but fundamentally. Vitia said that the stagnation and non-functionality of the Health Information System has come as a result of the lack of a proper analysis, for which he added that he is constantly working on this process.
"Renovations are not being done only with painting or only with facades as some have tried to present. There are radical changes that are being made... The main problem in our surgical clinics has been post-operative infections, with these investments a deep reform is being made in the entire operative block... There is still a waiting list, you gave two options but unfortunately there is one another option, Mr. Haxhiu, yes, last year there was a record of stenting and coronary angiography, a record. However, the waiting list is the same as it was, with a slight reduction compared to a year ago. The reason why it was presented earlier is that there is no waiting list, we are witnesses and we have not forgotten that this happened not too long from the day or date we are talking about. The district of Pristina has been flooded with many private clinics that deal with invasive cardiology... Each patient who went and could not receive the service within a certain time at the KKUK, was immediately addressed to these clinics... Now that you are witnessing a number of large, most of them have been closed... Regarding the Health Information System, Mr. Haxhiu, you are absolutely right, you said that since 2006, millions of euros have been spent and we have not had the result of having a Health Information System, despite the many years that have passed and many investments made in the material aspect. I believe this happened due to the lack of an analysis", said Vitia./ KosovaPress