Kosovo without Health Information System

She, like many other patients, had been forced to take along all the documents, which reflect her general health, as in Kosovo the Health Information System (SISH) does not function.

For me, carrying these documents is very tiresome. Even now I have another health problem and I have to tell the doctor about the past...”, Zeqiri relates.

She says that in the absence of the system, she has all the reports and medical visiting documents, made in the last five years.

Health policy acquaintance, specialist Valdet Hashan, says the lack of a database for patients presents a major obstacle to work.

Hashan works at the main Centre of Family Medicine (QKMF) in Pristina and says it takes a lot of time to understand a patient's health history.

If there is a system, [the patient] is presented to the doctor, the term is appointed... and you know exactly how many patients you will have. This is a doctor's relief. I today [29.03.23] have had 68 patients ] 30 of them have been for the first time and I have no information about them. So you have to go in and get the anamnosis, family history. For the doctor, it's exhausting. If there were a one - click Health Information System, the family doctor would have had all of the patient's data”, Hashan says.

SSH malfunction

The Information Health System does generation, development, analysis, communication and use of data for the public and private health sector.

To improve health service to Kosovo citizens, the Health Ministry (MSH), in 2011, has proven the start of implementing this system in three phases.

The first two phases were planned to include piloting and implementing the system in 30 percent of the country's territory and the pilot's assessment at the end of 2014.

The third phase included the implementation of the system throughout the country, with the goal of being implemented by 2020.

However, even now in 2023, the system in question has not been realized.

What are they? Reasons?

The National Auditing Office in Kosovo (ZKA) has conducted an audit for the period 2010-2017 concerning the implementation of the Health Information System, as a health ministry project. According to this audit, the Health Ministry has failed to implement the plan for this system.

In a written statement sent to Radio Europe Free on March 29, 2023, the National Auditing Office cited several reasons for the system's failure:

“MSH has not yet functional professional health folders needed for the identification and authorisation of health care professionals”.

According to the ZKA, the distribution of physical infrastructure has been lacking in all health institutions, in which it was previously in, and also, according to it, there has been no reshuffle of existing data in order to access the new system.

What do they say in the Ministry of Health?

Minister of Health in the Government of Kosovo Arben Vitita says this system is necessary for health in Kosovo, for functioning health insurance and for the health system itself.

He says he doesn't know much about not realising the project, but adds that the ministry he currently runs is working in this direction. According to him, the results will soon be seen.

Now, to have no doubt in the ongoing steps, along with our international partners, is becoming a feasibility study that will end in June and that will show us all the specific recommendations and steps we will approach building this health information system, so that we do not fail once again. With this feasibility study completed, from June, immediately and in parallel, we are taking all steps to prepare for, after recommendations, to begin with implementing this very important system”, says Vitita.

On the other hand, former Health Minister Armend Zemaj, now deputy chairman of the Parliament's Health Commission in the Kosovo Assembly, says budgetary opportunities and investments on this level have been missed, but that the results have been missing.

A million investment has taken place, but it has been three years pushing with the same interests the people who lead the administrative part of the MSH and who have influence over the minister's ministries or policies. They haven't moved a millimeter. I'll tell you about the functioning of this system.

He says that during the time he was a minister, he was a pandemic time and that he did not deal with capital investments.

According to him, with the absence of this system of things, patients ' lives are harder and their abuses are greater.

Hummol from WHO: Kosovo must have SSH

Isme Humolli, professional emergency official at the World Health Organisation in Kosovo, says the Health Information System takes a lot of time to be inclusive.

According to her, each country is obliged to have the Health Information System.

And Kosovo should have it. Kosovo has had data even earlier, but now it is time to become compact with the entire system in Europe and the world, especially with Europe”, Humoly considers.

SISH Investments

In 2010, the Kosovo Ministry of Health has drafted and approved the strategy for the Health Information System in Kosovo (2010-2020).

To implement it, the Government of Kosovo and Luxembourg have signed a bilateral agreement, with obligations and responsibility for each side.

According to the ZKA report, the Luxembourg government would carry out its financial obligations to implement the project worth 6.5m euros, while the Government of the Republic of Kosovo would support and monitor implementation of the project and secure its contribution worth 1.3m euros.