On 3 April 2025, HAP held the 20th meeting of the Project’s Steering Committee to present and approve the Yearly Plan of Operations for the third year of the Consolidation Phase, covering the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Opening remarks were delivered by representatives from the Swiss Embassy in Tirana, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. The meeting brought together key stakeholders from Albania’s health sector, including representatives from the Operator of Health Care Services (OHCS), the Health Insurance Fund (HIF), the Agency for Quality Assurance in Health and Social Care, as well as municipalities and civil society organisations.
In presenting the project’s planned activities for 2025–2026, Project Manager Dr Besim Nuri emphasised that HAP will continue to play a key role in strengthening primary health care and expanding home care services in Albania. One of the main objectives will be to support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in the nationwide scale-up and implementation of these services, ensuring a more structured and efficient approach to reach patients in need. To this end, HAP will contribute to the development and dissemination of a detailed home care implementation manual, ensuring that all health centres are equipped with clear guidance on procedures and standards.
Another important area of HAP’s work will focus on strengthening institutional capacities. The OHCS will benefit from training and mentoring to enhance its monitoring and leadership skills, while Local Units of Health Care (LUHCs) will receive ongoing support to improve their ability to plan and identify beneficiaries of home care services. This process will be accompanied by specialised training for nurses, including the development of didactic materials and instructional videos on clinical procedures.
As part of efforts to modernise the healthcare system, HAP will also support the use of technology in medical practice. Family doctors will be trained to use clinical tools integrated into the HIF’s platform, with the aim of improving the management of chronic diseases and the more efficient delivery of home care services. At the same time, the provision of essential medical and IT equipment to health centres will continue, ensuring that those left out in previous project phases also benefit from this support.
To ensure the sustainability of these efforts, HAP will prioritise advocacy and stakeholder engagement. Civil society organisations will be supported in launching initiatives aimed at improving the financing of primary health care, while collaboration with the media will help raise public awareness on the importance of these services.
Naturally, the implementation of these activities also presents several challenges. The expansion of services beyond the 17 LHCUs currently supported by HAP poses a significant risk to the achievement of annual targets, while potential changes in the health administration following the legislative elections may lead to delays in the execution of planned activities.
In this context, the project’s success will also depend on the autonomy and commitment of the LUHCs and Regional Operators to continue training and take a proactive role in monitoring home care services and implementing chronic disease protocols. With a coordinated and sustainable approach, HAP aims to contribute to a stronger and more accessible health system for Albanian citizens, particularly the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
The meeting concluded with the approval of the Yearly Plan of Activities and renewed commitment from partners to scale up the interventions supported by HAP further.