The heart connects Kosovo and Luxembourg

Building on more than a decade of cooperation between Luxembourg and Kosovo in the health sector, a series of exchange visits was organised around World Heart Day 2026 to support knowledge sharing and capacity development in cardiovascular care. Healthcare professionals from the Kosovo Hospital and University Clinical Services (KHUCS) and Luxembourg's National Institute of Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology (INCCI) worked together to strengthen clinical practice, quality standards and patient care.

From 28 September to 2 October 2026, three cardiology healthcare professionals from the KHUCS travelled to the INCCI for a one-week observership with Luxembourg cardiology specialists. The visit was supported through the Health support programme – Phase II, financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev. 

Throughout the week, participants were exposed to advanced clinical practices, innovative organisational approaches and rigorous quality standards applied within one of Europe’s leading cardiology centres. Through direct observation of clinical processes and professional exchanges with INCCI specialists, they gained practical knowledge of cardiovascular care and interventional cardiology services.

Following this observership, an INCCI team composed of a cardiac surgeon, a cardiac perfusionist and a quality officer visited the Cardiology Clinic in Pristina from 4 to 11 October 2026. The mission aimed to support the cardiac surgery teams in strengthening their skills and enhancing the organisation of cardiac procedures. The INCCI team also assessed quality improvement and patient safety practices in cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology at the clinic.

In parallel with its daily work with the cardiology teams, the INCCI delegation exchanged with LuxDev staff on several cross-cutting aspects of the programme, including monitoring and evaluation, operational partnerships, gender equality, communication, and administration and finance.

The discussions also provided an opportunity to explore synergies with other Luxembourg-supported initiatives in the health sector, including the LuxAid Business 4 Impact project. Through its LuxAid Challenge Fund (LCF) instrument, this initiative supports the innovative Kosovo start-up Heart+, which aims to develop and test an AI-based remote cardiac monitoring solution in Kosovo to detect arrhythmias and early warning signs of serious cardiovascular events. Private sector engagement is an important part of Luxembourg’s approach to supporting sustainable economic development and innovation in Kosovo.

Luxembourg-Kosovo development cooperation in the health sector, particularly in the field of cardiovascular diseases, will continue to foster strong and sustainable partnerships built around identified needs, knowledge exchange and long-term capacity development.

The Health support programme in Kosovo – Phase II is co-funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Republic of Kosovo and is implemented by the Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.