Former Health Minister Andmend Zemaj has criticised health sector management by the current government, claiming that poor budget management, tender interventions and drug-related interests have affected the lack of drugs and the difficulties patients face.

Democratic League of Kosovo MP ( The LDK, in a conversation for Online Economics, has said that increasing the health budget has not translated into improving services for citizens.

According to him, concerns are also associated with interference in the essential drug list and allegations of misuse of tenders in favour of certain companies.

We’ve raised this concern over and over again and we’ve stressed that, first, with mismanagement, but also with financial interests that are allegedly related to different pharmaceutical companies, with interference in the essential list of medicines and tender abuses, to give to certain companies that have caused delays, but have also burdened the lives of patients and citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, Zemaj has declared.

He has estimated that the lack of responsibility in financial management is directly affecting patients, while stressing that the budget for the sector, although it has increased over the years, has not produced the expected results.

All of these together, because the government’s inability and lack of attention to this very important and vital sector, not to say the full responsibility of budget management, which has been on the rise from time to time but has been misused, are again being turned into disparity of Kosovo patients and citizens, he said.

Zemaj has acknowledged that the health budget is not enough, but according to him, better management of existing means would enable better conditions for patients.

It has cited respecting the supply deadlines, managing the stock of medicines, and adequate organisation of patients’ treatment as some of the factors that could affect improving health services.

But when we have mismanagement, misuse, tender intervention and personal interests of people related to the Ministry of Health and power, then even the budget is not enough, the LDK deputy has declared.

Heart: The waiting lists are pushing patients to private hospitals

The former minister has also raised concerns about political interference in health institutions management and appointments to management positions.

According to him, the appointment of those who, as he claims, do not have the necessary competencies, and the departure of professionals with scientific degrees and managerial experience have affected the functioning of the health system.

Zemaj has also linked these developments to long waiting lists, which, according to him, are pushing patients to seek services in private institutions.

This power has consistently interfered with the work of health professionals, interfering with clinic directors, appointing non-competitive people and leaving people with scientific degrees and management experience. Thus, long waiting lists, which are in favour of private health institutions, have been created, he said.

Source Layer: Dukeagini