25,800 inhabitants of Patos municipality have now access to a better health service at the newly rehabilitated HC thanks to the Swiss investment

The medical staff composed of 12 doctors and 41 nurses provide 24/7 health service in the fully reconstructed building upon the latest primary health care international standards.

The health center of Patos was visited on 8 March by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Swiss Ambassador in Albania Mr. Adrian Maître, Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu, HAP Executive Director  Dr. Besim Nuri and representatives of local authorities.

The rehabilitation is an investment of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and contribution of Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP) for the VAT refund.

Reconstruction works in additional health centers and polyclinics in Fier qark, respectively in Lushnje, Aranitas and Fratar are ongoing by the HAP project to the 6 health centers rehabilitated in Fier qark during the first phase of the project.

In the past months, the distribution of nurse’s bags to 41 family nurses in Patos HC took place, another investment of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The nurse bag includes 15 medical instruments that are necessary for the nurses’ clinical practice thus enabling a better health care quality to patients especially to women, children and elders. Throughout Fier qark, nurse bags have been distributed to 640 family nurses in the primary health care.

In 2016 and 2017, HAP distributed the doctor’s bag to 164 family doctors working in 45 primary health care centers in Fier qark.

Overview of Swiss support for a better health for Patos inhabitants

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has continuously supported the improvement of the primary healthcare quality by investing in the development of human resources (I) through management and clinical skills enhancement and by supporting community empowerment interventions (transparency & accountability and health promotion initiatives) (II).

As for the human resources, HAP has trained the team of family doctors and nurses of the health center for the management of acute medical conditions, strengthening of capacities for emergency care, health management, financing, budgeting procurement and annual planning. Additionally, since 2016, HAP supports the continuous medical education of family doctors and nurses through the peer review groups and/or forums to exchange professional information.

Being aware of the importance the information has into empowering citizens, information sessions have been organized in Patos with a participation of 95 people. The information sessions aimed at raising the community awareness on patient’s rights toward a qualitative health service. Aiming a better accountability and transparency, Patos Health center, thanks to the HAP assistance, has conducted, for the third consecutive year, the Annual Performance Analyses with the participation of community members, local government and health institutions. Regarding the health promotion as an integral part of HAP supported initiatives, the campaign on “Diabetes” took place in Patos Municipality, reaching more than 1000 community members.