The number of new cancer cases in Kosovo is increasing, while the Oncology Clinic at UCCK is facing a large influx of patients every day. In just the first six months of this year, around 1,100 cases have been registered, with breast cancer remaining the most common type in Kosovo, accounting for 235 new cases, the majority of which are in women over the age of fifty.
The director of this clinic, Ilir Kurtishi, provided a summary of the situation for the first half of 2025.
Kurtishi told KosovaPress that every day the clinic treats 250–300 patients in the chemotherapy service and around 120–140 patients in radiotherapy.
“This year, around 1,100 new cases have been registered at the Oncology Clinic, the same number as in the first half of 2024. The most frequent cancer in Kosovo is breast cancer. Meanwhile, by systems, as in the previous year, this year digestive tract tumors dominate, including tumors of the colon, small intestine, liver, pancreas, stomach, and esophagus. Around 235 new breast cancer cases have been registered, most of them in women over the age of fifty. On a working day, the Oncology Clinic carries out 250–300 visits in chemotherapy and 120–140 treatments in radiotherapy,” Kurtishi said.
He added that the Oncology Clinic has no waiting list for patients who require immediate treatment, either for radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Kurtishi emphasized that during this six-month period there has been no case referred for treatment abroad. This is thanks to advanced techniques such as IMRT and stereotaxy, which have significantly reduced the need for treatments outside Kosovo.
“The Oncology Clinic has no waiting list, except in radiotherapy cases that require a set period before treatment begins. In reality, the waiting lists are zero. All urgent cases, such as fractures, pain management, bleeding, or specific syndromes, are treated immediately within the day. Even in chemotherapy, we have no waiting list. It is worth noting that both this year and last year, we had very few cases referred abroad. This year, in the first six months, we had none, due to the use of advanced radiation techniques such as IMRT and stereotaxy, which were introduced last year and have brought quality services for patients within the country,” he said.
Regarding essential medicines, Kurtishi said the clinic is supplied with 80% of them. He added that five drugs are missing due to legal barriers and procurement procedures, but the main medicines are available.
Patients must provide themselves with the medicines that are missing from the clinic.
“The clinic is continuously supplied by the central pharmacy. According to the latest data, more than 80 percent of essential medicines are available. Some drugs that lack marketing authorization were provided last year by the Ministry of Health, while this year we are still waiting due to legal procedures and delays in contract signing. Currently, three to five medicines are missing, but most of the main ones – such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, biological therapies, and those for breast and skin cancers – are available. The medicines that are missing, patients must secure themselves,” Kurtishi said.
He concluded by saying that the Oncology Clinic has an ongoing need to increase the number of nurses, as there is currently a shortage.
