03 September 2026
–
Lajme
Advocating for Strengthening Patient Voices
On 2 September 2026 Action for Mothers and Children (AMC) brought together patients and representatives of organizations working in the field of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) for a roundtable discussion focused on strengthening patient voices and their role in advocacy and shared decision-making in health policy in Kosovo.
Participants from organizations representing people living with diabetes, hypertension, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, other chronic conditions, as well as older persons, shared the challenges they face in their daily lives. They stressed that patient empowerment should also be reflected in their meaningful involvement in the development of national policies and programs for the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases.
Among the priorities identified during the roundtable was exploring the possibility of establishing a joint advocacy mechanism among organizations working in the field of noncommunicable diseases, with the aim of strengthening Kosovo’s response to these conditions. Such a mechanism could serve as a platform for coordinating the efforts of civil society organizations, creating a common voice, and advancing the national agenda for the prevention, treatment, and management of NCDs.
The event was organized as part of the 2026 Global Week for Action on NCDs, a global campaign that this year places particular emphasis on leadership and the need to turn commitments into concrete action, investment, accountability, and measurable progress. AMC’s activities are implemented within the “Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Patient Engagement Accelerator” initiative, supported by the Integrated Health Services (IHS) project.
Participants from organizations representing people living with diabetes, hypertension, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, other chronic conditions, as well as older persons, shared the challenges they face in their daily lives. They stressed that patient empowerment should also be reflected in their meaningful involvement in the development of national policies and programs for the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases.
Among the priorities identified during the roundtable was exploring the possibility of establishing a joint advocacy mechanism among organizations working in the field of noncommunicable diseases, with the aim of strengthening Kosovo’s response to these conditions. Such a mechanism could serve as a platform for coordinating the efforts of civil society organizations, creating a common voice, and advancing the national agenda for the prevention, treatment, and management of NCDs.
The event was organized as part of the 2026 Global Week for Action on NCDs, a global campaign that this year places particular emphasis on leadership and the need to turn commitments into concrete action, investment, accountability, and measurable progress. AMC’s activities are implemented within the “Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Patient Engagement Accelerator” initiative, supported by the Integrated Health Services (IHS) project.