In-country activities
Albania | Swiss project contributes to the improvement of quality of primary healthcare and access to health services.
Health for All is an SDC-funded project implemented
in Albania by the Swiss TPH. The project aims at better health for the
population by improving primary healthcare services through enhanced
medical skills and capacities, better responsiveness to the needs of the
population, renewed infrastructure and equipment, enhanced planning and
management at PHC. The citizens have better control over their health
through health promotion activities and higher awareness on their rights.
Two
end-line studies have been conducted to measure the interventions
carried out during Phase 1 of HAP that ended in March 2019, namely:
Quality of Care measured at healthcare service level and Access of
families to PHC services measured at household level. Both studies show
positive changes in the project's target regions where a 10% increase of
PHC services use in rural and urban locations was observed. Thus:
The
quality of care at PHC level has improved by 20%, meaning that family
physicians are following better the procedures and protocols for the
follow-up of patients with diabetes, hypertension and other chronic
conditions. Improvements in clinical consultations were identified in
the adherence to privacy and confidentiality protocols of patients. The
improvements are attributed to increased awareness, skills and
capacities through physicians' peer groups supported by the project. HAP
investments in medical equipment have also improved doctors' abilities
to assess and treat patients in a comprehensive manner.
In
terms of infrastructure, improvements are observed in facility
cleanliness, availability of basic equipment, transparency and public
accountability due to project's investments.
In terms of
accessibility of the public to health services, the study shows that
80% of chronic patients and 87% of acute patients do not encounter
difficulties in accessing health services, showing improvement compared
to the baseline survey. These changes are attributed to the extension of
government efforts to reach universal coverage by providing free access
to PHC. Moreover, a series of education activities and awareness
campaigns on NCD risk factors and their prevention implemented by HAP
have contributed in utilization of health services by users.
For more detailed information please download the condensed summary of main results and key achievements of phase 1.
Phase 2 of HAP started in April 2019 and during this phase the project will continue to work for improving the population's health, operating both from the supply and demand side. For more information about the projects outputs of Phase 2, a comprehensive summary can be consulted here.
Related resources
Author
Irma Qehajaj
Communication Officer at Health for All Project
irma.qehajaj@hap.org.al
