ZEVA | Central & Eastern Europe

STATEMENT
2024
31st ZEVA SYMPOSIUM OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF PHYSICIANS

PRISTINA, KOSOVO, 5-7 SEPTEMBER 2024

HOSTED BY THE KOSOVO DOCTORS CHAMBER

STATEMENT ON THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE ETHICAL PRINCIPALS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN ALBANIA

The Central and Eastern European Chambers of Physicians (ZEVA) are united by their similar structures, which have historically taken on this form in Central and Eastern Europe. Although the role of the medical chambers is defined differently from country to country, medical self-governance is an essential feature of all our healthcare systems. All medical chambers take on different tasks that are delegated to them by their respective governments.

With this in mind, the medical chambers from Central and Eastern Europe present at their 31st annual Symposium on 7 September 2024 in Pristina express their extreme concern about the latest development in Albania regarding the proposed changes to the law on the Order of Physicians of Albania (OPA), which call into question its independence of medical ethics matters and the assessment of violations of the professional principles.

The medical profession develops ethical principles on a global and general basis. The physician-patient relationship and the trust of patients in the work of their physicians are of particular importance for the provision of good healthcare. Independence is one of the most important cornerstones of the profession that safeguards the highest quality of medical practice and autonomy.

Medical ethics are not a matter of political decision, nor can a medical chamber decide in criminal cases. The rule of law applies in criminal cases.
The Central and Eastern European Chambers of Physicians express their support for the Albanian Order of Physicians and hope that the political leaders in collaboration with the OPA will make decisions in the best interest of the patients and the independent medical profession.

Pristina, 7 September 2024

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF PHYSICIANS ATTENDING THE MEETING:

Austrian Medical Chamber
Croatian Medical Chamber
Czech Medical Chamber
German Medical Association
Kosovo Doctors Chamber
Doctor's Chamber of North Macedonia

Hungarian Medical Chamber

Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists
Slovak Medical Chamber