Kosovo also has one of the youngest populations in Europe, with more than 65% of its 1.9 million population under the age of 30. In 2021 however, 53.6% of young women and 42.9%of young men were not in employment, education or training. Kosovo spends just 8.9% of its GDP on social protection (2019 European Social Policy Network (ESPN) Thematic Report on Financing Social Protection, Kosovo), compared to an average of 28 per cent in the EU. As a result, a large number of the population are left vulnerable, with access to health, education and other social services limited, especially for the most disadvantaged. 

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These limited economic resources make it especially difficult for Kosovo to keep up with global health standards — and health care suffers as a result.

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The increasing burden on healthcare

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All of the public health challenges in Kosovo are compounded by a lack of resources. Some of the most basic and essential medicines are either unavailable or too expensive, resulting in dire and sometimes fatal medicine shortages. Our in-country partner representatives have indicated that the government’s budget for healthcare can only cover 60% of the essential medications needed. Without access to the right medicine and supplies, conditions that are entirely treatable can quickly become life-threatening.

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Limited health data is available for Kosovo, but the country has one of the lowest life expectancies in the continent. A recent study suggests a high incidence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer in the country. Many people live on low incomes, primarily spent on food and daily supplies, leaving little left for medical care.

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With the cost of a course of oncology treatment being so high, getting access to medication is often out of reach for many patients who need it the most. "Because of the very limited budgets, the Ministry of Health is not able to support patients in need of expensive medications, and they are left alone to try to find a solution." Vlatko Uzevski, Project HOPE's Regional Manager for the Balkans, told us. "There are cases of people selling everything they have, including their houses, to be able to support family members and buy the medicines that otherwise are not available."

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Cancer patients can be especially sensitive to treatment delays. Interruptions to treatment cycles due to a lack of access to necessary medicines or chemotherapy can put them at severe risk of their condition rapidly worsening.

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Lifting the burden by resourcing hospitals to treat patients

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Getting these medicines to the hospitals in Kosovo to be offered free at the point of use, is indispensable for patients and the oncology staff who treat them. IHP partners with Project HOPE, working together to strengthen the health system by providing essential donated medicine such as the oncology treatments bortezomib, doxorubicin and apalutamide, which are used to treat myelomas, lymphomas, leukaemia, breast, bladder and prostate cancers. Alongside these treatments, we also ship ondansetron, a medication that prevents nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery.

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Since 2021, IHP has shipped over 4,800 treatments of bortezomib worth over £2.8 million to the University Clinical Center Kosovo (UCCK) in the capital, Pristina. At the clinic, bortezomib is primarily used to treat multiple myeloma and leukaemia cases. “We currently have 62 patients with multiple myeloma who are being treated [here] or [who] are in remission.” Dr Shemsedin Sadiku, Director of UCCK’s Hematology ward, told us. IHP’s shipments are having a noticeable impact on the care of myeloma patients at UCCK. “With your help in these years….we have managed to meet 100% of patient needs, and we have [seen] very good results in the remission of the disease.” Dr Sadiku added.

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Bortezomib is usually taken by the patient once a week. The type that IHP ships to UCCK can be administered by the medical staff subcutaneously (by needle injection), which works well in terms of efficiency for the medical staff and is less strenuous for the patient.

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Giving cancer patients an opportunity to fight back

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The treatments IHP has shipped to Kosovo since 2021 have been used to provide over 2,340 patients access to free cancer care to give them a chance to beat the disease. Two of these patients told us the difference these medicines have made in their lives:

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Melos* is 64 years old. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January 2022. “I started therapy, but after 2 cycles, the bortezomib was no longer available in the haematology clinic, and I was forced to buy it. My salary is only €250, and the treatment [I need costs] €180 …I am very happy to know that we have your help to be supplied with this medicine.”

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Hyrije* is 58 years old, she received her myeloma diagnosis at the beginning of 2018. When the time came for her to begin treatment shortly after her diagnosis, the required medication was not available. “I was forced to buy the medicine outside of the country at the price of €400. I was also registered as a patient in Croatia to [receive] the drug [for] free. After this bortezomib [arrived] at our hospital with your help, I’ve now received eight cycles [of treatment] and also 2 years [of] maintenance therapy**, and now I am in remission.”

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* Patient names have been changed  

** Treatment that is given to help keep cancer from coming back after it has disappeared following the initial therapy.

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IHP recognises the struggles of cancer patients in Kosovo, and we are continuing to work closely with Project HOPE to source and send critical medications for the fight against cancer. "Thanks to this partnership and the donations we are providing, many people are significantly extending their life. But not only that, they also have a much better quality of life," Vlatko Uzevski, Project HOPE's Regional Manager for the Balkans, said, "Without these donations, people have to leave their country and move to other western European countries just to be able to receive the therapy and fight the cancer. This program is literally saving lives, but...it's [also] saving entire families."

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Continuous, reliable sources of cancer medications are essential for ensuring that patients in low-and middle-income countries can complete their full cycle of treatment and have the possibility of entering remission. Your support will mean a higher quality of life and stability for not only cancer patients but their families. Please join us in helping these disadvantaged cancer patients get proper treatment.

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Together, we can work towards ensuring access to cancer care for those who need it, preventing unnecessary suffering and avoidable deaths. Click here to donate towards our work.

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