From now on, every citizen who enters the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK) by car will pay 1 euro for parking for up to one hour, compared to the previous fee of 50 cents. This decision is foreseen in the new regulation on the use of parking spaces within QKUK premises, which has also been supported by the board of the University Clinical and Hospital Service of Kosovo (ShSKUK).
Patients and their family members have expressed outrage over the new decision, saying that in addition to expenses for treatment, medication, and medical tests, they must now also face a higher parking cost.
Brahim Maxhuni stated that increasing the parking price to 1 euro is unaffordable during an economic crisis.
“I think it is very expensive for patients and for individuals. It is costly, there is a crisis, salaries here are not high, and for that reason it would have been better if it remained 50 cents,” he emphasized.
Alongside dissatisfaction over the price increase, Shaban Maloku raised another concern.
“In no way is this acceptable because there is already a heavy burden on the family economy. You have no choice but to come here, and what is worse is that after 15:00 the ramp on the east side does not operate,” he said.
Rifat Ahmeti also considers the decision unreasonable. According to him, it further burdens the pockets of patients and their families.
“They have a monopoly and can do whatever they want. It is not reasonable. When you have someone ill, you already have extra expenses, and now this car fee on top of that,” Ahmeti said.
Milaim Muqolli from Hertica in Podujeva expressed his frustration, saying that citizens sacrificed for the state and democracy, and are now facing decisions that harm them and misuse their trust.
“Negative, shameful. Did we ask for a state, did we ask for democracy, we lacked freedom — and now are Albanians misusing everything?” he said.
Concerns about the increase in the parking entry fee have also been raised by the Patients’ Rights Association in Kosovo (PRAK).
The head of PRAK, Besim Kodra, described the move as a paradoxical decision, stating that such actions distance patients from the public healthcare service.
“Without a doubt, it is a burden. First of all, beyond the financial aspect, it affects people’s dignity, because the institution, instead of carrying out its own duties — for which it is paid — is transferring healthcare responsibilities to patients’ family members, who are laypersons. In most cases, they cannot provide the best possible service. Yet they are still being charged. This is the most paradoxical decision I have heard of. There have been ad-hoc decisions like this in hospitals in the past, but they were not systematized at the ShSKUK level, or at least they were not public,” he declared.
KosovaPress has sent questions via email to the Qendra Klinike Universitare e Kosovës asking for the reasons behind this decision and how the funds collected from parking fees within QKUK premises are spent. However, by the time of publication, no response had been received.
Recently, the University Clinical Center of Kosovo also decided to charge 3 euros for companions of patients at this healthcare institution. Exempted from this decision are patients of the Oncology Clinic and clinics treating patients with malignant diseases, as well as companions of patients under the age of 15.
