Prishtina, 1 October 2026
Honourable Speaker of the Assembly and Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms Albulena Haxhiu,
Honourable Mr Arben Vitia, Minister of Health,
Honourable Ms Nafije Latifi, Director of “Jeta Vita”,
Dear colleagues from the Government of the Republic,
Honourable Members of the Assembly of Kosovo,
Dear women who are facing breast cancer, as well as those of you who have overcome this disease,
Honourable representatives of the University Clinical Hospital Service of Kosovo, the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo and other health institutions in our country, representatives of civil society, non-governmental organisations and the media,
Honourable ambassadors accredited to the Republic of Kosovo who are present here today,
Honourable healthcare professionals,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear participants,
No one should have to face breast cancer alone, and this is the shared message we are conveying from this gathering.
We are here for women who are undergoing treatment and for those who have completed it, to raise awareness of the importance of regular check-ups, that is, early detection and timely treatment.
I thank all organisations that, through their daily work, stand by women and their families. During 2025, 601 new cases of breast cancer were reported in Kosovo. 592 among women and nine among men.
Until 2022, the majority of diagnosed breast cancer cases were either at the third or fourth stage. Thanks to the increase in diagnostic equipment and awareness-raising campaigns by the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with non-governmental organisations, in 2023 and 2024 the majority of cases were diagnosed at the first or second stage.
The same trend was also observed in the past year, 2025, when more than 53.4 per cent of cases were diagnosed at early stages.
For these cases, the chances of treatment and recovery are significantly better. Early detection is not only important but vital. Concerns should not be ignored and check-ups should not be postponed or delayed. In public healthcare, mammography has been provided free of charge since 2023. Recently, a mammography machine was purchased and is now operational in Fushë Kosovë.
In our healthcare system, specifically at the Oncology Clinic, two new linear accelerators have also been installed. One of them is equipped with the C-RAD system, which helps deliver radiotherapy with high precision, the only one of its kind in the region.
But, in addition to Fushë Kosovë, there are also eight other mammography machines, all of them digital, which will arrive this year and be distributed among the municipalities of Kosovo where there are none.
But patient care continues even after treatment has been completed. So, detection alone is not enough; there must also be successful treatment, that is, complete recovery.
Over the past three years, 136 breast reconstruction procedures have been performed at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo. All of them were free of charge, meaning there was no additional cost for citizens, and there is no longer a waiting list for this procedure. For comparison, the price in private hospitals ranges from EUR 3,000 to EUR 5,000.
Today, I would like to address in particular the women who have chosen to share their experiences with others. Your voices are a source of courage for those who have recently been diagnosed and encourage others to take greater care of their health. I thank you very much for the strength and generosity you show.
Dear participants, caring for our health is not limited to one month or one activity. Let us take the message of this day, talk about it, support one another and undergo the recommended check-ups. Get yourself checked—for yourself, for life!
Thank you for your contribution, participation and attention!