Prime Minister Albin Kurti declared that during 2025, 171 doctors returned to Kosovo to live and work. He described this as a positive development in the face of the departure of healthcare professionals. He also spoke about the ‘brain gain’.
According to him, after the phenomenon of ‘brain drain’, in recent years the country has been facing the opposite phenomenon. This is referred to as ‘brain gain’. Kurti made these comments at the opening of the fourth edition of the ‘Swiss Medical School’ on 7 November 2026. There he praised the cooperation between Albanian doctors in the diaspora and healthcare professionals in Kosovo.
Investments and budget for healthcare
The head of government said the aim is to offer doctors better working conditions. Also, modern equipment and new training opportunities. Speaking about investments in health services, he mentioned over 5.5 million euros in Gynaecology, around 1.45 million euros in Invasive Cardiology at the UCCK, and over three million euros in Neurosurgery and Vascular Surgery.
Kurti also made known that the budget for the Essential Medicines List has increased from 35 million euros in 2019 to 64 million euros this year. The budget for medicines for oncology patients has increased from 8 to 22 million euros.
Recognition for diaspora doctors
The Prime Minister also praised diaspora doctors who return to lecture. They train young professionals and work with healthcare teams in Kosovo. According to him, this cooperation should continue even after the meeting ends.
The data presented by Kurti come at a time when the departure of healthcare professionals has been a persistent concern for the country’s health system. The return of 171 doctors during 2025, according to the Prime Minister, shows a new trend. He links this trend to the improvement of working conditions and the investments made in health institutions.
In his speech, Kurti stressed that cooperation with diaspora doctors should not be limited only to such meetings. It should continue further. This contributes to training new generations of professionals and strengthening healthcare teams in Kosovo.