At the Pulmonology Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK), around 10 cases of tuberculosis are currently being treated. Meanwhile, over 200 patients with this disease were treated in this clinic last year, and those of the male gender dominated.

This is what the director of the Pulmonology Clinic, Musa Hoxha, told KosovaPress, while noting that at the country level, the number of people affected by tuberculosis is nearly 600.

He adds that there is a tendency of decrease of the number of cases with this disease, compared to 2022.

The "fate" of the 10 patients with tuberculosis who are being treated in this clinic do not have many others with different diseases who are treated in Pulmonology. This is because the Pulmonology Clinic does not have enough capacity to accept all patients who need hospitalization.

In the 66 beds owned by the Pulmonology Clinic, there are 66 patients who are receiving health treatment. Meanwhile, there are other patients who, due to the small number of beds and insufficient spaces, despite the need for hospitalization, are not able to be admitted.

For this reason, the director of Pulmonology, Musa Hoxha, says that there are cases when patients postpone admission to the hospital for several days, or seek help from other clinics.

Among other things, Hoxha said that they constantly have problems with overcrowded spaces and beds. He said that each room has one more bed than it should.

In addition, Hoxha said that they have a shortage of mid-level nursing staff.

Meanwhile, as regards the supply of essential drugs for the cure of tuberculosis and other diseases, Hoxha emphasized that they are doing well.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. Its causative agent, mycobacterium tuberculosis, or Koh bacillus, is transmitted by splashes of saliva when the infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. /Z. Zeneli/