The University Clinical and Hospital Service of Kosovo (SHSKUK) is set to open a recruitment process in January 2025 for 370 positions, all of which will be filled by temporary staff.
In an interview with KosovaPress, the Director of SHSKUK, Elvir Azizi, discussed the investments made in 2024 and their positive impact on the quality of healthcare services. Azizi assured that the recruitment process for the positions will be transparent.
“There are over 370 people within SHSKUK currently holding acting positions, and this situation has persisted in some cases for decades. Frequent changes in legislation have caused confusion. Finally, we received a clarification from the Ministry of Public Administration (DMSP), and we immediately instructed each requesting unit to open recruitment for acting positions,” Azizi explained.
Azizi also emphasized that the competition will open in January for all acting positions across SHSKUK.
Progress and Investments in Healthcare
Azizi highlighted that in 2024, SHSKUK ensured the procurement of 74% of essential medicines and medical supplies, bringing stability to the supply chain.
“I am confident, based on reports, that 2024 has been the year with the best supply of essential medicines and other necessary medical materials for SHSKUK’s uninterrupted operations. When I arrived, I found only 25% of contracts for the essential medicine list had been signed. Now, we’ve reached 74% coverage of essential medicines, with active contracts for 74% of the products,” he said.
In addition, several facilities within the University Clinical Center of Kosovo were renovated in the past year, and new medical equipment is being used. Azizi described these efforts as part of a radical transformation in healthcare.
“All renovated operating rooms and those that will continue to be renovated will be equipped with filters to prevent cross-contamination, which means reducing the possibility of hospital-acquired infections,” Azizi added.
Budget and Future Plans
For 2024, SHSKUK’s budget was €180 million, with 90% of the funds already spent. Azizi noted that while the budget primarily covers salaries, there has been less progress in capital investments.
He also stressed the importance of better distribution of duties among healthcare professionals, suggesting that operations should not be the sole measure of a doctor’s workload. He encouraged a more balanced approach to the division of tasks within SHSKUK.
Lastly, Azizi mentioned that in the past year, the Ministry of Health had renovated several departments, including Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emergency, Oncology, Urology, and Radiology, and opened the annex of Orthopedics.
