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KOSOVO - Advancement of interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery
Reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Kosovo was the central focus of a recent symposium organised by the Kosovo Doctors Chamber, with support from the Health Sector Support Programme in Kosovo - Phase II and Institut national de chirurgie cardiaque et de cardiologie interventionnelle – INCCI from Luxembourg, in cooperation with the Cardiology Clinic at the University Clinical Centre Kosovo (UCCK).
This one-day event brought together experts from Kosovo, the region, and Luxembourg to share insights on interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery.
“Kosovo’s knowledge in cardiology is stronger compared to some countries where I’ve worked,” noted Prof. Dr. Arnaud CHARPENTIER, General Director from INCCI. “However, to achieve greater milestones, a collective effort and collaboration from all segments of the healthcare system (cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, primary healthcare workers and nurses) is essential.”
Prim. Dr. Dorjan MARUSIC, cardiologist, quality and health management expert from Slovenia, with longstanding experience in setting up national strategies in his home country and elsewhere, stressed the importance of having a national programme to combat these diseases. This calls for establishing a good collaboration of levels of care (primary, secondary and tertiary levels) to create a robust network, invest in capacity building, and health promotion and prevention initiatives.
Despite being a young country, Kosovo’s cardiology institutions have progressed, eventually aiming to build an EU-standard healthcare system. The new Catheterization Laboratory at General Hospital of Prizren, funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through the Health Sector Support Programme in Kosovo - Phase II, exemplifies progress in combatting cardiovascular diseases in Kosovo. Since its inauguration in June of this year, it has contributed to reducing the national waiting list significantly and providing services close to their habitat for the citizens of the Prizren region, which has 400,000 residents.
Patients have been receiving top-tier care from medical professionals in Kosovo, with strong international partnerships such as the INCCI and Slovenian hospitals. One of the members of the UCCK Cardiology Clinic team, Prof. Dr. Daut GORANI, stated that “we aim to utilise these state-of-the-art facilities and international collaboration to increase hospital capacity at its full potential,” highlighting an exponential increase in the number of patients treated in the last decade.
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality globally, claiming 17.9 million lives annually. For Kosovo, developing a national action plan is critical to improving prevention, treatment, and public health outcomes. This symposium highlighted the importance of national and international collaboration in paving the way for a healthier future.
The Health Sector Support Programme in Kosovo - Phase II is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.
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