The Health for All (HAP) project has collected a series of mini-stories of impact from family doctors, nurses, psychologists and patients from the most recent health centres supported by the project, offering a clear picture of how primary health care reforms are translating into tangible improvements in the daily practice of professionals and the lived experience of Albanian citizens.
The collected stories reflect the concrete effects of HAP’s support in areas such as home care, non-communicable disease management, mental health integration, peer learning and the provision of essential medical equipment
For health professionals, the stories highlight a recurring theme: greater confidence, clarity and effectiveness in their work. Family doctors and nurses describe how updated clinical protocols, practical trainings and standardised equipment have enabled them to diagnose, treat and follow up patients more systematically within primary care. Several accounts point to a reduction in unnecessary referrals to secondary care, saving time and effort for both patients and providers while improving continuity of care at the community level.
Nurses working in home care services emphasise the value of regular home visits supported by appropriate tools and guidance. With better equipment and clearer procedures, they are now able to monitor patients with chronic conditions, limited mobility or complex needs directly in their homes, contributing to early detection of complications and improved quality of life.
Psychologists and social care professionals reflect on the importance of having a clearly defined role within primary health care teams. Participation in the development of the Manual of the Psychologist in PHC, targeted trainings and Peer Groups has helped translate practical experience into structured guidance, strengthening collaboration with medical staff and supporting more integrated responses to mental health needs.
The voices of patients underline the human impact of these changes. Individuals receiving home care describe feeling safer, more independent and better supported, particularly when regular visits and counselling replace difficult or impossible journeys to health centres. Families report being more informed and better prepared to support their relatives at home.
Together, these mini-stories illustrate how system-level investments affect real people and everyday practice. They reinforce HAP’s broader mission to strengthen inclusive primary health care services that respond to the needs of communities, while ensuring that reforms are grounded not only in policies and protocols, but also in the experiences of those who deliver and receive care.