February 25, 2026
Action for Mothers and Children this week gathered key stakeholders for an important discussion exploring how donations of medicines and medical equipment can support and ensure the sustainability of reforms in Kosovo’s public healthcare system. Deputy Health Minister Dr. Arsim Berisha emphasized the role of donations in building Kosovo’s public healthcare system over the years, as well as their continued function as a catalyst and driving force for improving services.
Leaders from the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK), Central Pharmacy, Kosovo Chamber of Pharmacists, Faculty of Medicine and the Kosovo Medicines Agency highlighted the key role of UCCK’s donations office in coordinating clinic donations to meet daily medical needs and support the inclusion of medicines in the Essential Medicines List. Central Pharmacy Director Dardane Mehaj highlighted the challenges of ensuring continuous availability of essential medicines due to delays in public procurement procedures.
Surfactant donations as a success story
“AMC has seen firsthand the vital role international medical aid can play in saving lives and strengthening healthcare in Kosovo,” said AMC Executive Director Rina Demiri Spahija. One of AMC’s most important partners in this effort is Americares, a leading nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization.
“Since 2006, Americares has provided nearly 4,150 vials of Survanta (surfactant), a truly life-saving medicine. Each vial helps premature babies breathe on their own so thousands of lives have been saved. This is possible only because of our close collaboration with Action for Mothers and Children,” said Dmitriy Popov, associate director of Eurasia partnerships at Americares, in a video message. “AMC has been our trusted partner for more than a decade, ensuring every donation of medicine reaches the right facility, the right clinician and ultimately, a baby in need, at the right moment. Together, we’ve delivered nearly $9 million in medical products to improve the health of families across Kosovo.”
Neonatology Clinic Director Dr. Luan Morina said, “Donations of surfactant from AMC and Americares have directly contributed to reducing the mortality rate of premature infants in Kosovo, which has one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in Europe.”
Roundtable participants recommended:
- Despite the increase in the healthcare budget compared to previous years, a further and sustainable increase in the budget for medicines and medical equipment is recommended, in line with the real needs of the healthcare system
- Implement legislative and administrative reforms in the medicine registration process, with particular emphasis on biological and oncological therapies
- Amendments to the Law on Public Procurement and simplification of procurement procedures are needed, in order to improve access and efficiency in the supply of medicines
- Although AMC and Americares consistently donate prenatal vitamins, these products should be formally included in the Essential Medicines List
- Strengthening monitoring and reporting mechanisms for medicinal donations to donors is recommended
The “Impact of Medicine Donations as Drivers of Sustainable Reforms in Public Healthcare” roundtable is part of an ongoing series of discussions organized by AMC on priorities that directly contribute to patient care.
