QKUK Workers Union Chairman: New Doctors Leaving Kosovo

There are over 400 doctors of various barking experts, since the recent study in Kosovo has already been launched for better conditions and jobs in European Union countries.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Selmani, what is the current state of workers within the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo. What are their requests that address you?

Jamie Selmani: The state of health workers in general in our Republic is not good, and especially at the University Clinical Centre in Kosovo, which is not even about wages, but only from the volume of work because it is too large at QKUK.

Our ongoing demands are increased social well-being for health workers and the best supply of hospitals with spent material and medical equipment. That is our goal and goal.

You have had promises from the Government of Kosovo for salary increases. How far are things in this direction? Do you have any information?

We have recently had a pre-election agreement with the coalition that has already won 30 per cent wage increases. But at the beginning of the year, we've already realized that the past government has adopted a law with which wages on average economic growth cannot be increased.

We have also had agreements before the salary law was delayed, which is also conditional on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement from 2010. We have postponed money in talks with the current prime minister and we have been promised the law on wages will be passed. Our promises are to complete this job in early June, and with budget revision, we have dignified salaries according to school preparation and promotions.

What are the deficits of the medical framework, and what are the areas that are most liquefied by this phenomenon?

There are many deficits in our Republic according to the standards of the World Health Organization. In any functional facility within the health service, there are no doctors or nurses enough for a head count. There are deficits in all health services outside the CKUK, and there are such positions that support certain clinics because colleagues have retired, and there are no new staff.

At the Clinical Center, the situation is slightly different because of a higher concentration of specialists here.

How disturbing is the fact that a considerable number of doctors continue to leave Kosovo?

This fact has constantly disturbed us, and in 2014 we have studied with an organization from Switzerland, and the results have turned out that about 400 doctors have fled Kosovo.

For four more years this number is huge. Let's not talk about nurses that their numbers leaving are much larger until the needs inside the system are too big. They are attending foreign language courses and preparing for the European market.

What can Kosovo institutions do to prevent the departure of doctors?

Kosovo institutions must act very quickly to prevent this phenomenon, invest in public health because it is in the best interests of the population.

If no quick steps are taken but they see the health system to take advantage of it as it has been done for 20 years, health may actually be poor.

If we refer to some statistics, even the age of doctors at QKUUK is presented as a disturbing phenomenon. What is the average age of doctors if you have data?

Average age is over 50 years old, which is huge damage. Shortly after the war, the average age of medical professionals has been 35 years. The management policies have not been properly planned, nor specialisations, as well as brain failure from Kosovo. I have difficult conditions for work and disrespectful wages.

It's hard to keep family with these salaries. If two family members don't work on a health salary, you can't take care of your family. I am confident that the Government of Kosovo will reflect and as we have our promises, and that I believe will stop the departure of doctors from Kosovo.

After the Law's adoption for Pristina has opened once again, debate over the possibility that Pristina will have its own hospital. How much would such a hospital facilitate the overwork at QKUK?

With this number of Pristina's population, there is a need to have Pristina a hospital, where even professional services would be taken. The QK is so loaded that often we find ourselves dealing with primary-level problems, not the tescriar for what the KKUK institution is dedicated to. (REL)