From Waiting Room to Learning Space
A New Approach to NCD Care in Kosovo
One February afternoon, community and health professionals met in the reception area at the General Hospital of Gjakova in Kosovo, for an unusual purpose. The area, once defined by waiting, was being transformed into a space of learning, conversation, and support.
Across the room, people living with diabetes and hypertension and their caregivers moved between small, interactive corners. In one such corner they could check their blood pressure and glucose levels and talk through with the hospital’s doctor what those numbers mean for their daily lives. At another, conversations unfolded around nutrition, small but realistic lifestyle changes. Other corners focused on the challenge of staying on treatment over time and coping with the psychological burden of a chronic condition. Family members joined in the conversation.
Named “Health Station”, the idea is simple: bring practical health education into a space patients already use and make it accessible and human.
“Traditionally, hospital reception areas are spaces of waiting,” said Hilmi Shala, Executive Director of the hospital. “We are proud to transform this space into a place of guidance, learning, and support.”
This new approach points out that conditions like diabetes and hypertension are not managed only during clinical visits, they are a daily reality shaped by habits, decisions, and understanding. The Health Station responds to this reality by helping patients take a more active role in their care.
The Health Station also reflects the broader principles of the Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) approach, which reimagines hospitals as places not just for treatment, but also as environments that actively promote health and wellbeing. By integrating education, prevention, and patient empowerment into everyday care, the approach helps turn routine visits into opportunities for learning. This extends the role of the hospital beyond its traditional boundaries. The GH of Gjakova is member of the International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals since March 2024.
Supported by the Swiss Government through the Integrated Health Services project, the initiative also highlights the value of sustained investment in patient-centred care. As Merita Stavileci Mustafa from the Swiss Embassy noted, spaces like this are “a very practical expression” of care that is continuous, connected, and grounded in people’s everyday lives.
At its heart, the Health Station is all about equipping patients with information to better manage their conditions. It is a place to pause, learn, and care. The model is designed to be easily replicated in other hospitals across Kosovo, contributing to a stronger and more people-centred health system.
