Full oda of doctors, no functional

As early as 2013, the Assembly of Kosovo had adopted the Law for Ods. But, functioning them as a whole has been and remains problematic. Establishment of the Odas has meant carrying some responsibilities from the Health Ministry to these bodies.

So far, five odas have been established, including Oda of the Stomatologists, Oda of the Pharmacists, and the Infermies, as well as Oda of the Phyiotherapists.

The responsibilities they have lie in the area of continued professional education, ethical issues, licensing and relicensing.

Health Minister Uran Ismaili has recently entrusted the competencies for the licensing and relicance of local health professionals and continued medical education from the Ministry of Health to the Oda of Kosovo Doctors.

But, overall, there are many competencies belonging to these odas by law, but that the Ministry of Health has not yet carried them to these bodies. So told Radio Free Europe Chairman of the Oda of Stomatologists, Cameron Shala.

“Oda has accepted nearly all authorizations. The powers of legal oversight of the specialisation process, the organisation of professional exams and sub-specialism remain. It is surprising that Oda of the Stomatologists has established a specialization commission, which is extremely meritive and at a level. But, the Health Ministry has not shown the willingness to carry this competence to our Oda”, Shala said.

The chairman of the Federation of Health Union, Blerim Syla, said that the complete failure of odas over the years has dealt with political games. It has been the Ministry of Health that has not allowed the delivery of competencies, which have met with Oda laws, he said.

The previous “we have insisted that these odas be functional, so odas in general, but what worries me is that carrying competencies has gone too slowly. It is good that certain competencies are being carried, but the licensing and relicing of foreign health workers are still remaining at the Health Ministry”.

So these odas have no powers yet to license foreign doctors, which is going slower. We've always had to do with political games in carrying or failing competencies. The Odas are necessary and should clarify these things”, Syla said.

On the other hand, Zijadin Gashi, chairman of the Association of Pharmacists, said they have already achieved a stability in terms of the competencies they exercise.

The “Oda of the pharmaceuticalists since taking over the competencies of professional education we have all put into place and we act on the basis of those competencies that we have taken as responsibility”, Gashi said.

However, before 2013 Kosovo has never had Oda of professionals. This is seen as legislative content parts within the health system and the competencies that these oda will exercise would facilitate the work of the Ministry of Health as an institution.