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Accessible Quality Healthcare (AQH)


AQH strengthens the clinical capacity and managerial competence of Primary Health Care (PHC) providers towards improving the quality of care provided to the population, focusing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). At the community end, AQH generates demand for quality services, by improving health literacy and involving people in shaping the services, thus leading to an increased and rational utilization of all health services and ultimately improved health status of the population.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Kosovo
Health
nothemedefined
Health systems strengthening
Primary health care
01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027
 CHF  6’500’000
The project in brief
Background Despite progress, the health system in Kosovo continues to face challenges, ranging from health professionals’ migration, leadership and governance, to health service financing, management and citizen participation. Yet, Kosovo has a relatively young population and this advantage could be leveraged to proactively address rising disease trends, such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Improving the system’s response to NCD prevention and management by better matching the needs of patients and strengthening the gatekeeping role of PHC remain critical priorities.
Objectives The health of the population of Kosovo has improved, with strengthened healthcare providers and managers able to meet the needs of patients (especially vulnerable groups), who are more aware of their rights and needs.
Target groups
  • Patients with NCDs to be treated according to new models of care in PHC as primary beneficiaries
  • PHC service providers, family doctors and nurses, and health managers to benefit from all education and training activities as secondary beneficiaries
  • Respective family members and caretakers of NCD patients, involved through health education and promotion activities as indirect beneficiaries
  • With the intended national scale up, AQH will be reaching an estimated total of 570’790 beneficiaries, of which 283’956 direct beneficiaries
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: PHC providers deliver quality services for NCDs to informed citizens.

Outcome 2: Health managers ensure delivery of quality PHC services that respond to community needs.

Outcome 3: The population improves its health literacy and demands better access to high quality care.
Results

Expected results:  

Key outputs of the planned phase:

  • Service packages for NCDs are consolidated in PHC provision
  • Quality management principles are embedded in PHC provision
  • National actors have strengthened capacities to technically guide, manage and implement HE/HP for NCDs
  • Community feedback informs the delivery of PHC services


Results from previous phases:  

  • The capacity of PHC institutions to manage NCD patients has improved. A new care model, combining curative and preventive approaches was successfully introduced in 20 partner municipalities. Within this framework, a total of 50’028 (in %, 51f/49m) patients with hypertension, diabetes and/or asthma received individual motivational counselling
  • Quality management systems have been introduced along strengthening of managerial capacities through comprehensive management training programmes, targeting 407 senior PHC managers
  • Health services have become more patient-centered and more open to include patient representatives in decision-making. Now included in legislation, patient feedback mechanisms, i.e., Patient Councils are being extended in all municipalities
  • The project succeeded in raising the profile of NCDs on the national health agenda and there is overall a high level of interest and commitment among the stakeholders that have a mandate to improve NCD prevention, control and management.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
Swiss Academic and Research Institution
  • Foreign private sector North
  • Foreign private sector South/East
  • Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute


Coordination with other projects and actors
  • SDC Integrated Health Services project
  • Donor initiatives: WHO, WB, Lux Dev, UNICEF
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    6’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’600’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   15’990’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   22’490’000
Project phases Phase 3 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase) Phase 2 01.01.2020 - 31.12.2023   (Active) Phase 1 01.11.2013 - 31.12.2019   (Active)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation HEALTH
    HEALTH
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Health policy and administrative management
    Basic health care
    Aid Type Mandate with fiduciary funds
    Mandate without fiduciary fund
    Project number

    7F08891

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Last update 03.01.2021