Tuberculosis on rise in Kosovo
Tuberculosis cases in Kosovo are increasing at a faster rate than in any other country in Europe, Skender Bacaj, a specialist in pulmonary disease from the University Central Clinic in Kosovo, said, according to the Balkan Insight news site.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, May 15, 2009
According to Bacaj, there are 1000 new cases of tuberculosis in Kosovo every year. He believes that the situation is turning into an epidemic, and that the National Program against Tuberculosis is not working.
Bacaj also said that some patients left without beds choose to return home for treatment, posing a risks of further infection towards their family members.
The manager of the National Program against Tuberculosis, Rukije Mehmeti admitted that treatment facilities are not well equipped.
"In general, the standards for the treatment of tuberculosis in Kosovo are not good. Actually, there are 40 beds in the clinic, which are not enough," she said.
Meanwhile, Bacaj has presented allegations against Mehmeti, stating that millions of euro set aside for the development of the program have instead been "used for personal purposes and the wealth of someone''.
Kosovo's Police earlier confirmed the penal allegations against Mehmeti, but have said that a lack of evidence ended investigations.
