Kosovo experts call for healthcare investment to address aging population

Experts and professionals gathered at the 17th International Conference of Health Sciences in Pristina to discuss the challenges of an aging population and the need for improved healthcare and social policies.

Agron Gashi, Executive Director of the Institute of Southeast Europe for Health and Social Policies, noted that Kosovo's demographic profile is shifting. According to data from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the population aged 65 and older rose from 6.7 percent (approximately 116,000 people) in 2011 to 11 percent (approximately 170,000 people) in 2024. Projections suggest that by 2060, roughly 18 percent of the population, or about 380,000 people, will be over the age of 65.

Naime Brajshori, Rector of Heimerer College, emphasized that managing healthy aging requires cooperation between academic, healthcare, and social institutions, as well as society at large. The goal is to ensure that elderly individuals maintain dignity, autonomy, and quality of life through inclusive policies and social innovation.