On April 23, 2025, a group of 25 family doctors and general practitioners from 11 municipalities across Kosovo came together for a comprehensive training on the WHO’s Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN). The training was organized by the Association of Family Physicians of Kosovo (AFPK/AMFK), Master Trainers in Family Medicine with support from the Accessible Quality Healthcare (AQH) project.
PEN protocols have been adapted to the local primary healthcare context and incorporated into the National Clinical Guidelines and Protocols, which were developed by dedicated working groups and established by the Ministry of Health Ministry of Health through the National Council of Clinical Guidelines and Protocols (NCCPG).
Designed specifically for healthcare providers in primary care, particularly family doctors, the training focused on understanding the essential package for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and enhancing clinical skills to more effectively manage these conditions, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, especially among older and at-risk populations.
Drita Lumi, a family medicine specialist, emphasized the value of the training:
“I consider this training to be of great value…We expect that it will motivate family doctors to actively refer their patients to Health Education and Promotion Room, where trained educators will provide advice on risk factors and ongoing support for those living with noncommunicable diseases (NCD),” she noted.
Family doctors are the first point of contact in the health system and play a vital role in guiding patients through care, especially those living with NCDs.
This was the first in a series of four sessions planned between April and June 2025, all of which will be managed and delivered by AMFK, Master Trainers in Family Medicine, in close collaboration with the AQH project. Participating municipalities include Prishtina, Prizren, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Vitia, Kaçanik, Hani i Elezit, Suhareka, Mamushë, Dragash, and Podujevë.
By strengthening the skills of primary care providers and embedding evidence-based practices into daily care, this initiative is laying the groundwork for a more resilient healthcare system, and healthier communities across Kosovo, while prioritizing the well-being of patients with chronic conditions specifically targeting vulnerable populations aged 65 and older, in alignment with the AQH project’s goals.
