World Bank Supports Enhancement of Health Services in Kosovo, Improving the Lives of Its People

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved today the Kosovo Comprehensive Approach to Health System Strengthening Project (KOMPAS), which aims to strengthen institutional capacity and governance for quality of care in the Kosovo health system.

The project will support the strengthening of institutional capacity, enhance service delivery and health financing, and improve information systems. This will enable service providers to record and share essential health information, allowing real-time monitoring and measurement of health system performance.

Project interventions will center around enhancing governance and institutional mechanisms for quality of care, monitoring, capacity building for health care professionals and quality coordinators for utilization of clinical guidelines, support to the Health Inspectorate, investing in critical infrastructure and capacity building on public health preparedness and response, providing technical support for health financing interventions that will help develop strategic purchasing capacity for high-quality services. The project interventions will also support developing an integrated health information system (IHIS) to improve patient care quality.

“There has been progress in developing legal frameworks and other conditions for strengthening Kosovo’s health system, but to improve the overall quality of care for the population, the foundation of Kosovo’s health system needs to be strengthened further”, said Massimiliano Paolucci, World Bank Country Manager for Kosovo, and North Macedonia.  

The financial support approved by the Board for this project is EUR 18.6 million (US$20 million equivalent), a concessional credit from the International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank. The credit repayment period for this operation is 25 years, which includes a 5-year grace period. Following the approval by the Board of Executive Directors, the Government of Kosovo and the World Bank will sign a project financing agreement to be ratified by the Parliament of Kosovo for the project funds to become available for disbursement for the benefit of the citizens of Kosovo. 

The Ministry of Health of Kosovo will be the overall Implementing Agency and will be responsible for the overall project implementation.