On December 6th, HAP hosted the forum titled “Experience of Home Healthcare Implementation in Albania.”
The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Operator of Health Care Services, Health Insurance Fund, Local Units of Health Care, the Embassy of Switzerland, and the World Health Organization, along with directors of healthcare centres where home healthcare is implemented and respective coordinators.
Participants engaged in discussions surrounding the successes and challenges encountered in implementing home healthcare services across Local Units of Health Care in Tiranë, Durrës, Shkodër, Elbasan, Fier, Dibër, Korçë, and Berat.
Notable achievements highlighted during the forum included the professional development of nurses, improved healthcare accessibility for the elderly and chronically ill, standardised service delivery, meticulous service documentation and reporting, and the provision of training and equipment—all made possible through HAP’s support.
Despite these accomplishments, numerous challenges remain. These include difficulties in reorganising work to plan for the service (attributed to constraints in available time or a shortage of nurses), dual reporting obligations to both the Fund and Operator, challenges faced by specialists from Local Units of Health Care during personnel monitoring for home care, capacity-building needs for the Operator and Local Units of Health Care to facilitate the continued expansion of home care, coverage issues for transportation of personnel providing the service, and challenges in serving specific population categories, such as patients with mental health disorders and those in need of palliative care.
In the closing session of the forum, participants actively shared ideas on potential solutions to these challenges. They also discussed strategies for further refining the home healthcare model and creating conducive conditions for the enhanced implementation and expansion of this vital service to benefit the population in need.