A Vital Step for Neonatal Care in Kosovo: The Launch of the Neonatal Transport Service
18.12.2024
Since 2016, Action for Mothers and Children (AMC) has been at the forefront of a determined and sustained effort to initiate a Neonatal Referral System (NRS) in Kosovo, a country that bears the unfortunate distinction of having the highest neonatal mortality rate in Europe. This grim reality has been largely driven by the inadequate quality of neonatal care, compounded by the absence of a structured and medically supported system to transport newborns in need of specialized treatment. For years, parents across the country have been forced to navigate this gap themselves, often resorting to private vehicles to transfer their critically ill babies to Prishtina, an act born out of necessity but fraught with risk, leaving vulnerable newborns without the life-saving care they require during transit.
From the outset, AMC identified this crucial gap in the healthcare system and began its long-term advocacy to address it. In collaboration with Dartmouth Medical School, AMC orchestrated the training of medical staff from Kosovo’s Neonatology Clinic in 2017, marking the first phase of a comprehensive plan aimed at laying the foundation for an eventual neonatal transport system. The training sessions, facilitated by expert teams from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, took place in 2017. This momentum continued in 2018, when simulation trainings were conducted across regional hospitals in Peja, Gjakova, and Gjilan. These trainings extended the reach of expertise beyond the capital, fostering a network of competent medical staff in various regions and creating the capacity needed to facilitate safe and effective neonatal transport.
Central to these efforts was the development of the Neonatal Transport Guidelines, a document that established protocols for safely transferring newborns in medical emergencies. This guideline was developed by a working group with a significant contribution from Dr. Mynevere Hoxha, a distinguished neonatologist and an invaluable member of AMC’s medical committee.
Yet, despite these considerable advancements, the realization of the NRS remained stalled due to one key missing element: the absence of a dedicated neonatal ambulance. It was not until March 2024, when the Ministry of Health procured the ambulance, that the full vision of the referral system could begin to take shape. In a final push to actualize this long-awaited initiative, AMC, leveraging its own funds and with the support of the Fulbright Specialist Program and the MoH, brought two renowned experts—Dr. George Little, a neonatologist of international repute, and Victoria Flanagan, a highly experienced neonatal nurse—to Kosovo. Their arrival marked a decisive turning point as they conducted an intensive round of trainings for doctors and nurses from neonatal units in regional hospitals, imparting the specialized knowledge needed to manage neonatal transport with the new ambulance in service. After the training, Dr. Little and Ms. Flanagan conducted site visits to regional hospitals to assess the preparedness of the staff and facilities, identify any shortcomings, and provide guidance to overcome challenges. These visits were also intended to empower the staff, reinforcing their commitment, and emphasizing the critical importance of the Neonatal Referral System (NRS) in enhancing neonatal care across the region.
Today, after years of unwavering commitment and strategic collaboration, the NRS is poised to become operational, transforming what was once a distant aspiration into a concrete, life-saving mechanism.
On December 11, 2024, the Neonatal Transport Service was officially launched at UCCK, marking a significant milestone for Kosovo’s healthcare system. This service now ensures the safe transfer of critically ill newborns from regional hospitals to UCCK, providing families with a dependable and life-saving solution for their most vulnerable infants.
This achievement is the culmination of years of dedicated efforts, making it possible to save countless young lives. The Neonatal Referral System stands as both a major advancement in Kosovo’s health infrastructure and a powerful testament to the unwavering commitment to providing quality care for the smallest and most fragile members of society.
