More than 100 left this year

For years we talk about how doctors leave Kosovo, but nobody says how to stop them.

In the Kosovo Clinical and University Hospital Service (SHSKUK), only say that “ata departs by their own will” ) do not indicate whether they have any plans or strategies to lure them to stay.

With complaints about working conditions and wages, the Oda of Kosovo Doctors show that, during 2017, 109 doctors have withdrawn the certificate for the ethical past, which serves them for employment abroad.

In 2023, that figure was 167, and in the period 2018-2022, over 650.

The removal of new health frameworks seriously harms the health sector in the country”, they say at the Medical Association for Radio Free Europe.

And that's obvious. Patients wait months, if not years, for certain services, while many new devices are not even exploited because there are no professionals.

Why do doctors leave?

Dr. The Shpendi ʹmed by Radio Free Europe editorial is among 18 doctors who abandoned the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (QKUK) in 2024.

Prescriptioned for gastroenterology, he says he could not resist <x0bocratia” and “> iron monolopolis” in the clinic.

According to him, there is full control of a section of the staff at KKUK, which “does not welcome the new generations”, the cause of competition.

The clinic's chief, along with the department, has not allowed us to work. I've performed all those obligations, all those training in and out of the country, and I've not been allowed to tell that knowledge”, says Dr. Shpend.

He adds that as long as there is this old <x0mentality” of the leadership of clinics, the staff will not stay there.

Dr. Arber Mourqi left Kosovo two years ago, but for another reason -- wages.

In Kosovo, the doctor's professional salary is currently around 1,200 euros.

The average salary in the country is about 570 euros.

Muriqi says he works at a hospital in Tyringen, Germany, where the initial salary has started at 5,000 euros.

I come here... I work, I get a dignified salary, we live a good life and we help families”, says anesthesiologist for Radio Free Europe, who is specialising for neurology.

At the German hospital where he works, he says there are other nurses and doctors from Kosovo.

How can a doctor's flight be prevented?

SHSKUK, which oversees QKUK and seven regional hospitals in Kosovo did not answer Radio Free Europe's question if there are or plan any strategies to prevent the departure of doctors. Same as QKUKUK.

Hannah Xhemajli, a specialist in researching global health policies, tells Radio Free Europe that Kosovo institutions do not have any clear strategies for the health system and medical staff.

According to her, they should create such policies that make the staff feel valuable in Kosovo, having dignified wages and working conditions.

Likewise, their professional development should be stimulated and opportunities for progress provided.

Radio Free Europe has often reported on Poor Conditions In hospitals, rusty machines, or lack of basics like sheets.

Also, the lack of drugs is nearly a common problem and forces patients to buy them themselves.

Xhemajli says Kosovo, for the most part, has an aging population and improved conditions should be done urgently.

“Brend 20 years, we will have a much older population and we have no solution for keeping staff here and how to enable these institutions that we already have, to be more functional”, she says.

Countries like Germany or others in the European Union manage to adapt doctors from Kosovo very soon, due to conditions they offer, according to her.

The National Auditing Office in Kosovo has estimated in the 2023 report that over 10,000 people -- now and a month or years -- are on waiting lists for various medical procedures from heart operations to eye operations.

For this situation, the Audition Office has blamed the critical lack of medical personnel, especially anesthesiologists.

QKUK has Anesthesiology Clinic with 48 anesthesiologists well below 100, it would take, according to its leaders.

SHSKUK Director Elvir Azizi has earlier told Radio Free Europe that the lack will continue for some time.

In 2025, according to him, over 15 doctors are expected to complete their specialization in anesthesiology, but it is uncertain how many will work within the state health system because many have already financed their own education, which means they are not obliged to work there.

Therefore, without a clear and sustainable approach to addressing these challenges, Kosovo seems to risk losing an entire generation of health professionals, further exacerbating conditions in its health sector.