May 2025 – The Association of Private Hospitals of Kosovo (ASPKS), represented by members of the Board of Directors and the Secretary General, participated in a two-day study visit in Lisbon, Portugal, upon the invitation of the Portuguese Association of Private Hospitals (APHP), led by its President, Mr. Oscar Gaspar, who also serves as the President of the European Union of Private Hospitals.
This visit was organized within the framework of international cooperation for the exchange of experiences and the strengthening of institutional and professional capacities in the private healthcare sector.
During the visit, the ASPKS delegation had the opportunity to visit some of the most advanced private hospitals in Portugal, including:
- Hospital da Luz, one of the largest and most modern hospitals in the country;
- Trofa Saúde Amadora, part of a well-developed network of private hospitals;
- Hospital de Cascais, which operates under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
At these institutions, detailed presentations and discussions were held regarding hospital management, technological integration, service quality standards, and successful experiences of cooperation between the public and private sectors in delivering high-quality and sustainable healthcare.
A key component of the visit was the official meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Health of Portugal. The delegation was received by the Secretary General of the Ministry and the Director of Shared Services of the Ministry of Health. During this meeting, the Portuguese healthcare system model was presented, with particular focus on:
- Healthcare digitalization, through a unified and integrated system across all levels of care;
- Implementation of international quality and safety standards, including ISO standards in both public and private hospitals;
- Models of inter-institutional cooperation, and the sharing of best practices in healthcare management.
During the discussions, ASPKS expressed its readiness to explore opportunities for a bilateral collaboration between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kosovo and the Ministry of Health of Portugal, aimed at exchanging European experiences, implementing advanced digitalization models, and raising professional and institutional standards within the healthcare sector.
The Association of Private Hospitals of Kosovo highly values this study visit as an important step toward strengthening international cooperation, enhancing the professionalism of the private healthcare sector in Kosovo, and aligning with European standards in the provision of healthcare services.
