Kosovo facing lack of anesthesiologists

But, the director of the Anesthesiology Department, Nehat Baftiu, told Radio Free Europe that according to an internal study, the needs of this institution of anesthesiologists, for a total of 32 operating halls, should be about 100 anesthesiologists.

Otherwise, these days within the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo will open the new intensive treatment that will serve for patients.

But, according to Mr. Baftiu, covering with anesthesiologists there will be difficult.

“We are in deficit with doctors, not today but from the beginning. We manage a huge space within the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, and the number of doctors is not increasing. Those who are specializing anesthesiology are going to work private and out of the country for better salaries”.

We're about 45 total anesthesiologists for the entire QKUK. Now the number of beds is growing on 27 beds. I've been looking for doctors, anesthesiologists, but they brought nurses. I don't know what we're going to do because the cardiosurgeon is getting more beds and we have to send 2 anesthesiologists there. Ortopedia also added beds, gynecology and we are in deficit with anesthesiologist”, Baftiu said.

On the other hand, Health Ministry Information Department Director Faik Hoti indicated that intensive treatment and anesthesiology have been a course that has been given priority in recent years, since the number of specialists in these areas has been limited.

He further adds that in the process of specialising the Ministry of Health are 38 doctors who are completing their professional education in anesthesiology and who will serve the needs of KKUK and general hospitals.

These days are expected to open new intensive treatment at QKUK, which is a foreign investment. The University Hospital Hospital Service has announced competition days ago for the needs of the QKUK, where five anesthesiologists were prescripted. These quarts that will be recruited as well as the current staff will cover the needs and intensive treatment without ever closing the opportunity to get new frameworks because, as I said, intensive medicine and anesthesiology are constantly searching for vaults because they have been deficit in Kosovo”, Hoti said.

However, not only at the University Clinical Center, but regional hospitals also lack access to anesthesiologists where there are only one anesthesiologist at the Mitrovica hospital, in Vushtrria as well as just one, until Pec hospital has two anesthesiologists. Hospitals in Ferizaj, Gjilan, and so on.